Southern African nations pledge to boost regional trade corridors

Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa have pledged to enhance the Trans-Kalahari Corridor (TKC) to establish it as a premier regional gateway for trade, logistics, and investment. During a connectivity event in Jwaneng, representatives from the three nations committed to mobilizing investment and strengthening cross-border economic cooperation to drive job creation.

The TKC serves as a vital east-west route connecting the port of Walvis Bay in Namibia to South Africa and the broader Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. TKC executive director Leslie Mpofu stated the goal is to transform the corridor into a trusted destination for various economic sectors by engaging investors, traders, and financiers.

In a related regional development move, Zambia has identified the Walvis Bay–Ndola–Lubumbashi corridor as a strategic route for acceleration over the next five years. President Hakainde Hichilema announced that Zambia aims to position itself as a regional logistics hub by prioritizing several transport routes, including the Walvis Bay corridor, to facilitate trade and improve movement across borders. The Zambian government intends to address economic constraints by digitizing border processes and reducing administrative barriers to enhance investor confidence.