Tanzania Ports Authority Launches Integrated Electronic Payment System

The Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) has recently launched its new Integrated Electronic Payment System (e-payment) seeking to modernize the port services to reduce costs and clearing timing.

The new e-payment is part of a USD 10 million TPA’s project to install the Electronic Single Window System which is meant to integrate all the port activities and stakeholders in a single interface and improving the flow of information.

With this new system which is now available by its own website, the TPA stopped using paper invoices since all of them are now available online.

The TPA’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Acting Director, Mr. Kilian Chale, explained that the launch of the e-payment is the beginning of the TPA’s efforts on making the port’s activities more efficient.

TPA is working in partnership with other providers as Selcom Wireless, which manages the largest independent point-of-sale (POS) in the country, to develop the e-payment and improve its services, he added.

According to TPA’s Acting Communications Manager, Mrs. Janeth Ruzangi, the e-payment’s users will not only make their payments online, but also access to detailed invoice information using their Payment Reference Number (PRN) which can be requested from e-payment’s website.

The system can be accessed from a computer, smartphone or POS, and does not charge any fees per transaction, she added.

According to the last company’s financial release, TPA grew from 2011/2012 to 2013/2012 at a rate of 10.4% to reach an operating revenue of TZS 417,316 million with 13,713 million tons of handled total cargo traffic.

According to Bloomberg, TPA is currently investing in upgrading projects to raise the port’s efficiency to expand the cargo volume in 80% over the next two years.