THE Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) has been awarded top prize at the 19th East African Trade Fair held at Furahisha grounds in Mwanza, beating other institutions that participated from the East Africa region.

Additionally, the authority has also emerged as the best among government institutions that participated in the annual event.

Speaking during the award presentation to TPA at the fair yesterday, Minister of Industry and Trade Dr Selemani Jafo said that the award was a result of significant improvements in the services at the ports managed by TPA, thanks to the substantial investment that has been made so far.

“These achievements are a result of good management by TPA, including the investments being made at the Dar es Salaam port,” he said at the fair which was held under the theme ‘Improving Investment and Business Environment as a Catalyst for Economic Growth’.

The fair aimed to enhance business opportunities and enable East African member states to seize market opportunities in other regional blocs, including SADC.

In his closing remarks, Dr Jafo said the government’s goal is to improve service delivery across various sectors, including road, rail, and air infrastructure to boost trade and economic growth.

He also mentioned that significant investments have been made in the ports of Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Tanga, Mtwara and other areas to facilitate faster movement of goods for both domestic and international traders, thus stimulating economic growth.

Speaking on behalf of TPA Director General, TPA Senior Public Relations Officer Leonard Magomba said that TPA aims to further enhance its other ports through infrastructure expansion, investment in equipment, and hiring experts to ensure they meet international service quality standards.

“Due to this significant investment, the Dar es Salaam port can now accommodate large ships up to 300 metres in length,” he said.

“This has been achieved by deepening the entry channel and expanding the turning basin, allowing larger vessels to dock easily.”

He took the opportunity to invite clients, stakeholders and the public to visit the TPA booth at the fair to increase their awareness on the services provided by the ports.

Magomba also encouraged businesses to continue using the country’s ports for their cargo transportation needs to benefit from the available opportunities and improved efficiency.