Govt actualising projects linking Zambia to other countries
GOVERNMENT is working on actualising some corridor projects linking Zambia to other countries in a quest to boost transportation systems which are critical in catalysing economic growth.
The corridor projects to be actualised are the Walvis Bay, Lobito, Nacala, Beira, and Central
Transport and Logistics Minister Frank Tayali, highlighted these projects at the third Land-Linked Zambia 2024 Conference and Exhibition on Friday.
Mr Tayali said Government was working towards actualising the Lobito Corridor, using the road and railway network and various border posts between Angola and Zambia.
Regarding the Walvis Bay, he said Government was working on the Livingstone Sesheke Road and the new railway linkage between Livingstone in Zambia.
The minister said Government was keen to the operationalise the Zambian dry port facility in Walvis Bay. “As a nation, we remain committed to developing the various transport corridors that traverse our country. These are, the Walvis Bay – Ndola – Lubumbashi, Lobito, Nacala, North – South, Beira, and Central Corridors. “It is in the development of these corridors that Zambia will truly transform itself into a land-linked country and benefit from our abundant resources and strategic geographic location in the region,” Mr Tayali said. On the conference, Mr Tayali hoped that it would result in resolutions that chart a course towards enhanced infrastructure development, streamlined logistics. He was also hopeful that the meeting would result in harmonised regulations to create an enabling environment conducive for trade among different countries. At the same function, Stanbic Bank the Head Business and Commercial Banking, Chanda Mwila, highlighted the firm’s transport sector value proposition that seeks to provide dedicated solutions. These were trade linkages, access to information and access to finance On trade linkages, Ms Mwila said: “our market leading Africa China Trade Solutions known, as ZamChina is able to seamlessly connect buyers to suppliers of equipment and logistical assets in China at a competitive cost without compromising on the buyers desired standard of equipment.” She said the bank understood that the transport and logistics business was capital intensive and required access to finance. “Our wide range of capabilities include working capital solutions through structured Trade Finance and longer-term financing through our Vehicle and Asset Finance proposition, that can secure assets and equipment unique to the transport sector,” Ms Mwila said.