Habibu J. Suluo, the Director General and CEO of the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) of Tanzania, has announced that they will be participating in the Southern African Railway Association (SARA) Conference and Exhibition 2023. This exclusive railway event, hosted by railway operators from across Africa, is set to take place from the 25th to the 27th of October 2023, at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa.
LATRA, the governing body for both railway and road transport in Tanzania, oversees two primary rail operations: Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) and Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC). TAZARA, a partnership between Tanzania and Zambia, has already opened access to private railway operators. The TRC, which is government-owned, is currently under construction and it is expected to open access for private investment in the near future.
LATRA regulates public service transport that includes buses, taxis, ride-sharing, and motor-tricycle services, along with preparing for a new foray into cable transport for the tourism sector, thus providing investment opportunities.
At the SARA Conference, LATRA intends to highlight the scope of opportunities that the Tanzanian transport sector holds for potential investors. Emphasising the demand for cargo movement, Mr. Suluo stated that while there is capacity for one million tons of cargo from the port of Dar es Salaam to Rwanda, the current capability is only three hundred thousand tonnes, indicating substantial untapped potential.
As part of its engagement at the SARA conference, LATRA will also have representatives from its team to elaborate on the upcoming services and licensing procedures.
The Director General concluded by inviting international community to consider the Southern African Railway Associations event as a means to not only engage with the Tanzanian rail sector, but the greater Southern African railway community.
