US backs TransKalahari Corridor

Leonard Neill THE TRANSKALAHARI Highway has been chosen as a potential southern African model for regional cross border transport operations by the US-sponsored Southern African Global Competitiveness Hub. This was announced at a meeting of the TransKalahari Corridor Management Committee in Gaborone last week, where the ministers of transport of the three countries involved - Namibia, Botswana and South Africa - agreed to meet at the end of September in Walvis Bay. They will then sign the agreement of understanding for the formal establishment of the highway as the approved transport corridor serving the three countries. The Competitiveness Hub was established in June this year by the US government to reinforce regional efforts to enhance trading opportunities provided through the Agoa agreement, as well as other global trade initiatives. Through the hub, with its headquarters situated in Gaborone, technical assistance will be provided to southern African governments, the region's private sector and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to promote the six main themes of the Trade for African Development and Enterprise (TRADE) initiative. These are to enhance competitiveness of southern African products and services, expand the role that trade can play in African poverty reduction, and strengthen the enabling environment for business.