NAMIBIA VIA THE WALVIS BAY CORRIDORS GROWING AS A NEW TRADE ROUTE FOR SADC
With the economic slowdown at our door step, the Walvis Bay Corridors still continue to show a growth of 63% compared to the previous year, May 2008 along the Trans Caprivi (TCC), Trans Cunene (TcuC) and the Trans Kalahari Corridors (TKC). This growth can be attributed to the continuous efforts of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) in promoting the Walvis Bay Corridors as an alternative trade route for southern Africa. Apart from this the WBCG also initiates projects and seek funding thereof in terms of developing facilities and infrastructure developments along these corridors. In the past 19 years development efforts along the Walvis Bay Corridors was committed by the Government of Namibia to upgrade the road and rail connections linking the Port of Walvis Bay with its neighbours to be able to handle the increased volumes of cargo as well as infrastructural developments along these corridors. Commitments from the Governments of the neighbouring countries also complemented these infrastructure investments to ensure the smooth flow of cargo, through which the Walvis Bay Corridors traverse. The importance of the development of corridors is to promote regional economic growth with the aim of intensifying economic activities to and from markets along the various corridors. Along the TcuC, through the Port of Walvis Bay, cargo destined for Angola, has boasted an average of 136 trucks moving cargo along this corridor. 70% of the total shipments destined for Angola through the Port of Walvis Bay constitutes vehicles, which proves to be the most viable trade route to utilize. The TCC, since the completion of the Sesheke bridge, and the inception of the Lusaka office in Zambia, has experienced a gradual increase in cargo by more than 150%. This trade route has become a popular alternative for importers and exporters especially for the increased copper exports through the Port of Walvis Bay. To enhance the utilization of the TKC, an office in Gauteng, was officially opened to increase business representation by promoting the TKC as an alternative trade route which offers Gauteng and Botswana importers and exporters a time saving of 5-7 days. Through Namibia there is now a direct service from all the major economies of the world such as Europe, North and South America, Middle East, Far East, southern Africa and West Africa. This forms a basis for an increased opportunity of trade not only for Namibian traders, but also traders in the region. Through the Port of Walvis Bay commodity traders in the SADC region are now able to put their products earlier on the international market and vice versa via direct shipping links through Namibia and not through ports of a third country. This makes the Namibian economy more competitive in the region for producers and consumers in the country as well as in the SADC region. The Walvis Bay Corridors provide an ideal opportunity to add economic value to countries like Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia and Zimbabwe through transport.
