It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Thursday, December 25, 2025
China to Develop New Port in Kuwait for Regional and Global Trade
Kuwait has agreed to have China design and build a new regional and global trade port (Kuwait Ports Authority)
Kuwait and China formalized a new agreement, building on their cooperation and which aims to complete the development of a new port in northern Kuwait. Known as the Mina Mubarak Al-Kabeer port, it is a key part of Kuwait’s Vision 2035 project and China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Plans have been discussed for the new port as part of Kuwait’s economic diversification project aimed at moving the country’s economy away from its total dependence on oil. In 2023, China signed a series of Memorandums of Understanding to aid Kuwait with major infrastructure projects, including the new port.
On December 22, the Ministry of Public Works signed the contracts for the engineering, supply, and construction with China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). The project calls for the development of the port in a project that is estimated to cost approximately $4 billion.
Few details were provided on the plan other than its role in the future economy. They said it would be focused on manufacturing and light industry and would emerge as a new center for regional and international trade. Kuwaiti officials highlight the historic assets, mutual political respect, and the intersection of confidence and interests between the two countries.
CCCC highlights that it will be its first Middle East port project partially built to Chinese standards. They said it would incorporate the company’s expertise and technology.
Kuwaiti officials asserted that the project has progressed with the first phase as much as 50 percent completed. It is to have four berths and is expected to be operational by 2026. They said the modern port will streamline cargo handling and improve supply chain efficiency as a regional hub. The port will also be linked to the Gulf Railway project.
According to media reports, when the port is completed, its area will have increased tenfold. It is to encompass approximately 116 million square meters.
The location on Bubiya Island is in northern Kuwait near the Iraqi border. The project is expected to spur a new regional competition as many of the countries vie for an increased role in regional trade.
MSC Strikes Deal for Construction of Bagamoyo Port in Tanzania
Central Bagamoyo's beachfront (Arnold Tibaijuka / CC BY)
After a decade of negotiating uncertainty, Bagamoyo Port project is finally moving ahead. Last week, Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) revealed Africa Global Logistics (AGL), a subsidiary of the ocean carrier MSC, as the construction partner for the port. In a new agreement, TPA awarded AGL the rights to design, construct and operate the initial three berths at the Bagamoyo Port.
“We expect construction of the three new berths at Bagamoyo to begin early January,” said Plasduce Mbossa, TPA’s Director General. “We welcome more local and international investors to join the project, which aims to bring major transformation to port operations in Tanzania.”
The MoU marks an important milestone in re-launching the port project, which has suffered massive delays since it was first unveiled in 2013. At the time, the port was seen as a flagship project for China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, the administration of the late President John Magufuli canceled the project in 2019. Magufuli accused China of exploitative terms in the deal for the port's construction, which included demands for massive tax exemptions.
When the current President Samia Suluhu Hassan took power in 2021, she restarted negotiations for the port project, describing it as a national priority. With the appointment of AGL, the shift from a Chinese to a European-led project seems complete. This comes at a time that MSC group is tightening its grip on African port operations, specifically through its terminals arm TIL and logistics division AGL.
In recent years, AGL has become increasingly being involved in port expansion projects across Africa, including in countries such as the Republic of Congo, Angola, Namibia and Ivory Coast. Now with the investment in Tanzania, AGL has said that it will further unlock its access to multiple African markets based on the strategic location of Bagamoyo port in the Indian Ocean.
If completed, the $10 billion Bagamoyo port project is planned to have 28 berths and a special economic zone, which could support up to 760 industrial facilities. In addition, the port is designed to have annual container capacity of 20 million TEUs, 25 times that of Dar es Salaam Port. Located just 42 miles north of Dar es Salaam port, Bagamoyo port is intended to address operational and capacity limits at the current gateway.
Most importantly, Bagamoyo hopes to compete with Kenya’s greenfield port of Lamu, which has benefitted from the realignment of liner schedules this year. Lamu port had remained unutilized since its commissioning in 2021 but is seeing a bump in traffic. In August, the port had a record nine ship calls.
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