A new fishing port in Kilwa, located on Tanzania’s southern coast, is nearing completion. Constructed by the Chinese company China Harbor Engineering Company, the state-of-the-art facility marks a historic milestone as the first of its kind in East Africa.

Designed to handle 60,000 tonnes of goods, the port is expected to significantly boost the country’s deep-sea fishing and processing industries, creating around 30,000 new jobs in the process.

According to Tanzania’s Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, Bashiru Ally, the government is urging the private sector, in collaboration with banks, to explore opportunities for developing Tanzanian-owned deep-sea fishing vessels.

Kilwa’s new fishing port is not the only major infrastructure project to receive attention in Tanzania.

To the north, another significant initiative, made possible with Chinese assistance, is already operational: the Magufuli Bridge, built at a cost of around $300 million and opened in mid-2025.

According to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu, "One of the key benefits of this bridge is that it will simplify the transportation of farm inputs and produce, making it easier to reach markets. Residents in surrounding areas are therefore encouraged to increase productivity, raise incomes, and contribute to economic growth."

Both the Kilwa Harbour and Magufuli Bridge are part of a broader trend of infrastructure development projects driven by the growing partnership between Tanzania and China. Other notable projects include the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, which has helped improve regional trade and connectivity over the years.

Tanzania and China have maintained close diplomatic and economic ties for over six decades, with the relationship strengthening further after Tanzania joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Edited by CGTN Africa's Dinah Matengo