MTWARA (Tanzania), Sept 12 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — THE Russian government has expressed interest in utilising Tanzania’s Mtwara Port as a strategic hub for exporting and distributing Russian products to neighboring countries, while also importing cashew nuts directly from Tanzania.
Russian Ambassador to Tanzania, Andrey Avetisyan expressed the desire during his visit to Mtwara Region, as part of efforts to explore trade and investment opportunities between Russia and Tanzania.
“Russia has many products that can be exported through Mtwara. This port also presents a great opportunity to bring Russian products here and distribute them not only within Mtwara but also to neighbouring countries,” said Avetisyan.
He described Mtwara’s strategic location as an ideal gateway for regional trade across East and Southern Africa, particularly for land-linked countries.
“The geographical position of Mtwara and its port make it a promising trade hub for the entire region, including countries without direct access to the sea,” he noted.
On cashew imports, the envoy acknowledged Tanzania’s potential in supplying the Russian market.
“We don’t currently have enough Tanzanian cashew nuts on the Russian market, but I see great potential here, especially from Mtwara. I am keen to promote this,” Avetisyan said.
He also noted that Russia already exports goods such as fertilisers and energy products to Tanzania and other countries in East and Southern Africa.
Welcoming the move, Mtwara Regional Commissioner Colonel Patrick Sawala said Russia’s interest in using the port is a major opportunity for Tanzania to elevate Mtwara’s profile on the global stage and boost the region’s economy.
Sawala said that Mtwara Port has undergone significant upgrades, backed by a government investment of 157.8bn/-.
“The improvements include the construction of a new and longer berth, as well as the acquisition of modern equipment such as gantry cranes. These developments have increased the port’s annual cargo handling capacity to over 1.4 million tonnes and significantly enhanced container traffic,” he explained.
The upgrades have positioned Mtwara Port as a key export point for agricultural products, especially cashew nuts and an important player in regional trade.
Col Sawala further noted that Avetisyan’s two-day visit aimed to strengthen Russia–Tanzania trade and investment cooperation.
During the visit, the ambassador and his delegation met with the Director General of the Cashewnut Board of Tanzania (CBT), Alfred Francis, to discuss business prospects in the cashew sector.
The Russian delegation also toured the Maranje Cashew-Based Industrial Park in Mtwara to explore opportunities for further collaboration. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
