LingHang Group abandons its East Africa Logistic Center

摘要

China's industrial investment fund LingHang Group's hopes to become a key link in Tanzania's supply chains have been dashed by the sluggishness of President John Magufuli's government. In May, its chair, Xiangyun Wang, better known as Lisa Wang, abandoned any idea of building the East Africa Logistics Center (EALC), a mammoth project slated for Kurasini port, on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam. The Chinese company, which had focused almost exclusively on Tanzania, wanted to become the main intermediary for Chinese goods heading to member states of the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community. Wang broke the partnership she forged in 2016 with the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) to create the free zone, touted as the future entry point for goods into the region. However, EPZA Director Joseph Simbakalia and Industry Minister Innocent Bashungwa have not lost hope: they are looking for another strategic partner to carry out the project.