The entry into force of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Trade in Services on 13 January 2022 has been an important cross-border development, according to Nchaupe Maepa, chief operating officer of the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C -BRTA).Speaking to Freight News, he said the fundamental objective of this protocol was to create a single harmonised and integrated market for trade in services, including in the road transport sector.“Several member states which ratified this protocol have already made some commitments to that effect. This will significantly improve market access and opportunities for the cross-border road transport operators in the region.”Maepa said various other important developments were also unfolding in the cross-border road transport environment. Most of these were aimed at addressing longstanding challenges and bottlenecks to do with the fragmentation of the regulatory framework between SADC member states; fragmentation of the road transport markets; the liberalisation of road transport market access; inadequate infrastructure in corridors and at border posts; and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Maepa, dealing with the impact of the pandemic in particular was an ongoing matter.“From a regional perspective, within the cross-border space the Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme (TTTFP), which is led by the TTTFP programme unit at the SADC Secretariat, has been leading initiatives.”He said the Corridor Trip Monitoring System was an important tool to facilitate seamless cross-border movements during Covid-19, as was sustained co-ordination over the implementation of guidelines and operating procedures at border posts. All of these initiatives were aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus.Maepa said the lack of harmonisation in southern Africa remained a significant concern. “The delayed implementation of regionally agreed programmes such as the One-Stop Border Post at key commercial border posts located on trade-carrying regional corridors linking the region, road networks and maintenance of the same, is a matter which requires urgent attention. Inadequate funding is one of the reasons often cited for the delays.”This lack of harmonisation came into sharp focus as the impact of Covid-19 hit home. It resulted in restrictions being imposed on cross-border road transport operations due to the closure of border posts and the restricted movement of freight operations at some border posts. “To mitigate the risk of spreading the virus, countries implemented various measures with very limited co-ordination. So, for example, different regulations were implemented with regard to Covid-19 driver test certificates and the validity periods of these certificates,” said Maepa. “A lack of co-ordination at regional level resulted in unharmonised border operating times and closures, as well as the unharmonised implementation of practices and regulations. “The combination of unco-ordinated border closures and operating times and unharmonised regulations regarding Covid-19 tests for cross-border drivers resulted in unparalleled congestion, delays, long transit times, passenger discomfort, and added costs of doing business for operators and traders. “This also resulted in a serious disruption to supply chains as cross-border trade f low was negatively affected.”The TTTFP, he said, was an important initiative which, if successfully implemented by member states, would address the regulatory fragmentation. “Regarding infrastructure challenges in corridors and at commercial border posts, there is a need to look at various infrastructure funding models to accelerate infrastructure rollout. The Authorised Economic Operator programme (AEO) and the Operator Compliance Accreditation Scheme (OCAS) are key interventions that will transform the cross-border transport environment and result in a significant reduction in delays, congestion and transit times, both in corridors and at border posts. “The C-BRTA and the South African Revenue Service are working on a joint pilot project that will see the launch of AEO-OCAS in one of the busiest corridors. The pilot project shall commence in the next month or so.”Another exciting initiative to address the lack of harmonisation is the Cross-Border Road Transport Regulators Forum (CBRT-RF), which brings together road transport regulators of the SADC region to find common solutions to common problems.