Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan formally inaugurated the East Africa Commercial and Logistics Centre (EACLC) in Dar es Salaam, a Chinese-built facility valued at approximately $170 million, marking a key milestone in China–Africa trade cooperation.
Developed by Chinese enterprise EACLC Limited, the modern hub spans 75,000 m² and features 2,060 retail outlets, bonded warehouses, customs clearance zones, e-commerce platforms, and supply chain finance services.
President Hassan described the center as a “flagship investment,” designed to strengthen Tanzania’s trade connectivity across the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). She affirmed that the facility will play a pivotal role in reducing trade costs, stimulating local commerce, and integrating Tanzania more deeply into regional value chains.
At the launch, Wang Xiangyun, Chair of EACLC, emphasized the center’s economic impact: it’s expected to reduce regional trade costs by 30%, create over 50,000 jobs, and generate significant tax revenues, contributing already 22 billion Tanzanian shillings (~US$8.75 million) to the public coffers.
Chen Mingjian, Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, hailed the project as a powerful symbol of China’s growing enterprise presence in East Africa. He underscored expanding investor interest and projected long-term benefits for logistics, trade facilitation, and local business integration.
Located at the former Ubungo bus terminal, the facility is envisioned as a seamless trade ecosystem, hosting formal retail units, e-commerce operations, logistics services, and storage zones under one roof. Local officials reassured Tanzanian traders that the new hub enhances rather than displaces traditional markets, offering inclusive opportunities within Tanzania’s economic modernization agenda.
