LUSAKA, Jan. 22 — Zambia has reaffirmed its commitment to regional integration, trade facilitation, and economic development with the signing of two key development corridor agreements, according to a statement released on Thursday by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics.
The North-South Corridor Agreement and the Beira Development Corridor Agreement were signed on Thursday at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana.
Speaking after the signing, Zambia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics Frank Tayali said the country remains committed to the objectives of the two corridors as well as to the principles of regional cooperation and shared prosperity.
He said the North-South Corridor is one of the region’s most strategic infrastructure and trade facilitation programs, noting that it serves as a critical backbone for regional value chains, industrial development, and inclusive growth.
On the signing of the Beira Development Corridor Agreement, Tayali said the corridor provides Zambia with the shortest route to the sea for its imports and exports.
He said the Beira Corridor, together with the North-South Corridor and its linkages to other regional corridors, will enhance port-to-port connectivity, facilitate the movement of goods and people, and strengthen intra-regional and international trade.
Meanwhile, Duduzile Simelane, acting executive secretary of SADC, emphasized the strategic importance of the North-South Corridor, describing it as the backbone of the region’s transport work, and commended Zambia for its commitment to the corridor’s full operationalization and its adherence to all protocols related to the signing and ratification of the agreement.
She also welcomed Zambia’s decision to sign the Beira Corridor Agreement, citing its role in strengthening port-to-port connectivity between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean through linkages with the Lobito Corridor. (Namibia Daily News/Xinhua)
