WBCG adds impetus to regional corridor objective

The official launch of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group Gauteng office last week marked a significant milestone in the broader agenda of the Sadec region, Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe told guests at a gala function in Fourways. There’s a growing awareness of the importance of corridors in the economic and social development of the continent – in ensuring connectivity, access and mobility, he added. What’s more the corridor agenda is in line with the developmental objectives of the African Union. “In 2005 the AU meeting of ministers responsible for transport agreed that the continent should urgently eliminate missing infrastructure links and improve connectivity. “Tonight’s launch is hopefully part of a firm commitment to fulfil this mandate to promote better economic integration of Sadec and the world.” Radebe stressed, however, that regional economic integration demanded focus on all corridors – the likes of Lobito which is an important link in the economic integration of the DRC and Zambia, Nacala which is a joint initiative between Malawi and Mozambique and the Mtwara corridor which links the southern regions of Tanzania with Malawi and Zambia. “We ultimately hope to see tangible economic benefits for all our people in the region through potential time- and cost-savings along these corridors,” he said. “We now have an immense responsibility to translate economic opportunities into tangible economic returns.”