The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) has identified the Nkomazi Special Economic Zone (SEZ)-Port of Maputo link as a priority cross-border logistics corridor under South Africa's economic co-operation agreement with Mozambique.
The department highlighted the corridor during a recent briefing to Parliament's Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade on memorandums of understanding concluded with Mozambique, Lesotho and Algeria.
The Mozambique agreement includes co-operation on transport and communications infrastructure, trade facilitation measures and investment in strategic infrastructure projects covering rail, ports, roads and related logistics networks, the DTIC said.
The department also identified plans to strengthen priority value chains and trade facilitation protocols at ports of entry supporting cross-border economic collaboration between the Nkomazi SEZ and the Port of Maputo.
In addition, the DTIC highlighted efforts to develop a road- and rail-linked economic corridor anchored by the Nkomazi SEZ and the Port of Maputo to support international trade.
The agreements provide a framework for co-operation in trade, investment, infrastructure development and private-sector collaboration, with Joint Trade and Investment Committees (JTICs) to oversee implementation.
The Lesotho agreement focuses on resolving market access issues and developing cross-border value chain projects in sectors including automotive manufacturing, textiles and agriculture.
The Algeria agreement includes efforts to reinstate direct air links and strengthen maritime trade routes between Southern and North Africa. The DTIC said the initiative was intended to reduce reliance on European transit hubs and improve commercial logistics links for sectors such as pharmaceuticals and automotive components.
Technical teams from both countries have also been tasked with identifying strategic logistics hubs to support future trade growth.
