JICA gives tips on how Nacala corridor can thrive

THERE is need for the governments of Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to create partnerships with multiple players such as regional economic communities, cooperating partners and the private sector for the development of the Nacala corridor, Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Zambia office resident representative, Junichi Hanai has said.

Mr. Hanai said to utilise the infrastructure at the transport corridor and foster economic growth, there is need for the governments to discuss and consider plans on how they can accelerate trade on the port.

Speaking when he officiated at a seminar on Nacala Corridor Integrated development in Southern Africa held in Lusaka, Mr. Hanai said, transport corridors have played a critical role in the economic growth of Zambia and Malawi which are landlocked countries in giving them access to seaports. “Nacala corridor is one of the most important transport corridors and the first challenge towards the Nacala corridor development is the lack of transport corridor infrastructure,”

“The upgrades of part of the trunk road of Nacala corridor have not yet been completed even on the Mozambican side due to lack of complete transport corridor infrastructure hence the comparative advantage of Nacala corridor cannot be enjoyed especially in most inland areas,” Mr. Hanai said.

He said for Zambia and Malawi to fully utilise the advantages of the corridor, completion of the transport infrastructure development is inevitable, adding that another challenge in the development of the Nacala corridor is the lack of promotion of economic sectors.

Mr. Hanai noted that once the corridor infrastructure is fully developed the export oriented products will need to be promoted excluding traditional exports like copper in the case of Zambia.

Mr. Hanai explained that the Zambian agriculture sector has a high export potential but that there is needs to address challenges of low productivity by small holder farmers and the stagnant production of farm blocs.