Constipated corridors need solutions

With some 14 southern African transport corridors needing modernisation, now more than ever the focus must shift to a more regional infrastructure planning approach to truly support hinterland connected supply chains. That was the message from Steve Cameron, vice chairman for the Business Council for Africa, UK, when he addressed delegates at last week’s Cool Logistics conference in Cape Town. “But there has to be more collaboration between the stakeholders. Much investment has been made at ports with new equipment being put in place and the ports upgraded, but with little thought to the landside issues or getting in and out of the port for instance. “In the perishable industry all of this reduces the shelf life of the product and it becomes essential not just from a quality but a cost point of view to find long-term solutions.”