Tanzania Railways Corporation and WCF Sign Agreement for Hotel and Conference Centre at Morogoro SGR Station

The memorandum between the Workers Compensation Fund (WCF) and the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) covers facilities at the Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Station: 26 conference halls for between 10 and 600 people and a four-star hotel of about 91 rooms, at an estimated cost of TZS 65 billion. TRC says WCF is to build them.

TRC describes the project as one of the investment opportunities opened up by the 2023 amendments to Tanzania’s Railways Act, which allow investment in railway areas. Deputy Minister of Transport David Kihenzile called on domestic and foreign private-sector investors to use opportunities in rail, ports and airports.

The Workers Compensation Fund (WCF) and the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation for the construction of a conference centre and hotel at the Jakaya Kikwete Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Station in Morogoro.

The ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Minister of Transport, Hon David Kihenzile, on behalf of the Minister of Transport, Prof Makame Mbarawa, together with the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office for Labour, Employment and Relations, Hon Deus Sangu.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Sangu congratulated TRC and WCF for collaborating on the project, saying the partnership demonstrates the importance of institutions using existing resources to improve services and stimulate economic activity.

Minister Sangu added that the Prime Minister’s Office, through WCF, has begun investing in infrastructure construction as a step towards widening the scope of its investments.

For his part, Deputy Minister Kihenzile said the Government has continued to invest in railway infrastructure, including the SGR, which has improved the transport of passengers and goods and strengthened connectivity between areas of the country.

He said a railway network of more than 2,000 kilometres should be used efficiently to increase the productivity and value of Government-owned areas, in line with implementation of the National Development Vision 2050.

Hon Kihenzile also called on the domestic and foreign private sector to use the opportunities available in rail, ports and airports to invest further and increase the value of transport infrastructure.