THE leading Indian state-owned infrastructure enterprise- RITES, has expressed renewed interest in re-engaging with Tanzania’s railway development efforts.

Rahul Mithal, the RITES board chairman and managing director, made this affirmation at an engagement with journalists from various African countries here late last week.

Acknowledging an unresolved dispute over a railway contract nearly 15 years ago, he affirmed that the company is ready to move forward in a spirit of renewed cooperation for mutual benefit.

Signaling a fresh commitment to support the country’s transformative standard gauge railway (SGR) project and other key transport initiatives across the region, he said “we are indeed very keen to re-engage.” 

“We prefer not to dwell on the past—sometimes, despite the best intentions, projects face challenges. What matters now is constructive collaboration. We believe Tanzania offers significant potential for long-term partnerships in infrastructure,” the key executive declared.

RITES, which operates under the Indian Railways ministry, specializes in transport infrastructure consultancy and turnkey execution. The company has extensive experience across the railway value chain, including design, civil works, track laying, rolling stock supply, signaling and telecommunications, operations and maintenance, along with training, the company profile shows.

 It has completed over 100 major projects across 25 African countries and has ongoing engagements in Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique and Senegal, among others.

RITES has already undertaken a series of high-level visits to Tanzania over the past year and submitted multiple technical and financial proposals for upcoming phases of the SGR as well as other regional railway interconnectivity projects, he specified.

“Our team has been on the ground several times. We have engaged with key stakeholders in Tanzania’s Ministry of Transport and the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC). We have also expressed interest in working with neighbouring countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to explore possibilities for cross-border freight corridors,” he explained.

Tanzania’s ambitious SGR project, intended to link the port of Dar es Salaam with Rwanda, Burundi and the DRC, as well as Zambia via refurbishment of the Tanzania-Zambia railway, is part of broader efforts to modernize East Africa’s transport and logistics systems. 

The multi-billion-dollar investment is expected to reduce transit times, lower trade costs and unlock economic opportunities in agriculture, mining and industry, officials say.

The government is actively seekomg credible international partners with a track record of delivery, technical capacity and willingness to support skills transfer and local industrial development. 

In this regard, RITES’ re-engagement could mark a strategic shift, reviving long-standing ties between India and Tanzania, which at the state level date back to the Non-Aligned Movement. The countries share close social links and an overlapping business community, analysts noted.

In addition to its engineering services, RITES is known for its strong emphasis on technology transfer and capacity building. The firm has helped establish training institutions, ensured the supply of spare parts and rolling stock, plus modernizing systems for railway operators across Africa and Asia, the director underlined.

“We believe in building lasting partnerships—not just infrastructure. For us, it’s about helping to develop local expertise and ensure long-term operational sustainability,” he stated.

In recent years, India has ramped up its Africa-focused investments through concessional loans, grants and technical support, particularly in infrastructure, energy and digital transformation ambitions, he said.

Through its wholly owned subsidiary, RITES Afrika Pty Ltd based in the Botswana capital of Gaborone, it delivers transport and engineering solutions that are transforming mobility and trade across the continent.

Key projects include technical and management support to the Ghana Railways Corporation, the Tema-Akosombo rail line design, along with export of modern locomotives and coaches to Mozambique. 

In Mauritius, RITES served as project consultant for the Metro Express—the first full-scale Indian urban metro executed abroad. In Botswana, the company supervised the construction of Francistown Airport and the Tshesebe-Masunga road under the economic stimulus programme.

In Uganda, RITES has been instrumental in developing critical roads such as the Kikorongo-Katunguru and Lubiri ring roads, while conducting feasibility studies and project reports for transport infrastructure in Nigeria, Gabon and Rwanda.

RITES is committed to building sustainable transport networks that boost economic growth and regional integration across the continent, he added.