Reducing the time and cost of clearing goods through regional borders is essential if the cost of doing business in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region is to be reduced, says Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) chief executive officer Mbahupu Tjivikua.“We urge all stakeholders, from both the public and private sectors, to actively participate in problem solving as unified efforts will go a long way in ensuring our competitiveness as a country and the region,” he says.“The WBCG continues to advocate for the development of priority transport infrastructure that is supported by a robust supply chain network, conducive policies and regulations, as well as a core focus on trade facilitation to ensure seamless movement of goods and people. “All our trade facilitation efforts are in support of the continent’s interventions to boost intra-Africa trade through the harmonisation and simplification of policies, regulations and procedures as well as the exchange of information between the various stakeholders in the supply chain. “Although trade facilitation challenges remain, great inroads have been made over the years, and this is all thanks to all our stakeholders’ support, input and commitment.”The WBCG consultant to the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Development Corridor Committee, Eric Shimumbwe, adds that the committee is continuously engaging relevant authorities in Zambia, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) regarding interventions to speed up the f low of freight. These include corridor performance management systems, such as the yet-to-be-rolled-out Corridor Trip Monitoring System (CTMS) under the tripartite (SADC-EAC-Comesa) agreement, to further augment corridor performance and monitoring.The goal is to have a region of smart borders, corridors, trade, logistics and transport solutions across several transport and economic corridors, in order to achieve economies of scale, he says.The committee is also engaging relevant ministerial agencies in Namibia to consider expanding the border infrastructure at Katima Mulilo to accommodate all government departments and other border agencies operating at the border. There is a pressing need for increased staff at the borders, more parking space for trucks and for the implementation of one-stop border posts in order to support growth in regional trade. "The goal is to have a region of smart borders, corridors, trade, logistics and transport solutions across several transport and economic corridors.– Eric Shimumbwe“
