Achievements of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group

2004

• Opening of the Katima Mulilo Bridge over the Zambezi River, connecting Namibia and Zambia on the Trans-Caprivi Corridor
• Introduction of harmonised customs procedures along the Trans-Kalahari Corridor using the Single Administration Document (SAD 500).
• Maersk introduces a new direct service from South America to the Port of Walvis Bay.
• Namport doubles container throughput between 2001 and 2004
• Trans-Kalahari Corridor utilisation increases from 20% in 2001 to 60% in 2004.
• Walvis Bay Corridor Group selected as a model Corridor arrangement on the African continent by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

2005

• UNCTAD convenes first bilateral cluster meetings between Namibia and Zambia.
• Enhancement of Trans-Kalahari Corridor customs integration (common bond guarantee system).
• Opening of the Bakwena Platinum Highway.
• Two simultaneous shipments of automotive components are sent along the Trans-Kalahari Corridor route (Gauteng-Port of Walvis Bay-Europe) and the Durban Corridor (Gauteng-Port of Durban-Europe) as part of a pilot study to assess the relative benefits of each Corridor to the automotive industry; this study by the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC), in conjunction with UTi and the National Association of Automotive Components and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM), all in South Africa, confirms that the Trans-Kalahari Corridor route is shorter and faster.
• New customs procedures implemented at the Katima Mulilo (Namibia) and Sesheke (Zambia) border posts.
• Trans-Caprivi Corridor carries its largest consignment to date (3,000 tonnes of rice).

2006

• Namibia and Zambia border posts are automated using the Auto-mated System of Customs Documentation (ASYCUDA++) system.
• Walvis Bay Corridor Group opens first branch office in Lusaka, Zambia.
• After a trial period on the Trans-Kalahari Corridor, the South African Revenue Services officially rolls out the SAD 500 to other corridors in southern Africa.
• The northern railway line reaches Ondangwa, where a container depot is constructed at the Nehale Station.
• Construction of the northern railway line continues from Ondangwa for another 60 km to the Namibian border with Angola, at the Oshikango/Santa Clara border post, and is expected to be completed by mid-2008.
• The World Food Programme sends 8,050 tonnes of food to Zambia via the Trans-Caprivi Corridor.
• Maersk provides a direct service from the Far East to the Port of Walvis Bay.
• Construction of the 40km Aus-Lüderitz railway line commences, providing a rail link to the Port of Lüderitz, for the Trans-Oranje Corridor.
• First export consignment of beans from Tanzania via Trans-Caprivi Corridor through the Port of Walvis Bay.
• Trans-Caprivi Corridor carries consignment of vehicles from the Port of Walvis Bay to Malawi.
• Namport installs closed-circuit television (CCTV) at the Port of Walvis Bay.

2007 

• WBCG HIV/AIDS Help Desk launches HIV/AIDS Workplace Policy.
• The HIV/AIDS Help Desk runs a Leadership Seminar on Employee Wellness Programmes within companies as a way of addressing the impact of HIV/AIDS on the workforce, using the Namport campaign as a successful example in practice.
• Establishment of an office for the Trans-Kalahari Corridor Secretariat within the Walvis Bay Corridor Group office; the Secretariat is funded by Namibia, Botswana and South Africa; a Programme Coordinator is recruited to run the Secretariat.
• Walvis Bay Corridor Group embarks on a study to analyse the transport industry’s value chain and to identify opportunities for small- and medium-scale enterprises within the transport industry in Namibia, in cooperation with the German Development Service (DED).
• Walvis Bay Corridor Group instigates funding support through the Roads Authority and through the Road Funds Administration, receives funding from the Development Bank of Namibia to upgrade the Okavango River Bridge (also known as the Divundu Bridge).
• Walvis Bay Corridor Group launches the Road Safety and Security programme along the Walvis Bay Corridors.
• The Trans-Caprivi Corridor carries its largest consignment unit, 49m x 4,5m wide container in 4 weeks to Zambia via the Port of Walvis Bay.
• WBCG held its first awareness meeting in Lumbumbashi DRC to promote Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lumbumbashi Corridor.
• Extension of border operating hours between Botswana and South Africa which is now in alignment with Namibia and Botswana, in accordance with the Trans Kalahari corridor Memorandum of Understanding.