Trade volumes increase on transport corridors

Creation date: 12 January 2009

Trade volumes along the Trans Kalahari, Trans Caprivi and Trans Cunene corridors have increased from 174,299 tonnes to 282,031 tonnes, representing a growth rate of more than 61.8% on tonnage shipped between 2007 and 2008, according to Johny Smith, Business Development Executive of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG).

Smith said during an annual review session held in Windhoek this week that the estimated revenue generated by the transport sector along the corridors increased by N$45.9 million from the N$73.5 million in the 2006/2007 financial year to N$ 119.5 million in 2007/2008.
“Volumes on the Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC) increased by 19.1% from 4 917 to 5 857 tonnes. Volumes on the Trans Caprivi Corridor (TCC) increased by more than 76.7 % from 27 521 to 48 627 tonnes. Volumes on the Trans Cunene (TCuC) increased by 60.4% from 141,861 to 227,548 tonnes,” said Smith said.

He said this year has been very exciting for the WBCG, as the volumes have started to increase significantly on the various corridor routes serving the Southern African Development Community region.

Namibia’s role as a gateway to the rest of the SADC role has proved more prominent and has created more interest from regional as well as the international markets.

“We are slowly but surely succeeding in developing Walvis Bay as the preferred trade route for Southern Africa. Apart from promoting the Walvis Bay Corridor opportunity in the regional market, the WBCG also started promoting the Walvis Bay corridors on the international market this year,” he said.

He said SADC’s economy is growing beyond 5% per annum and the Port of Walvis Bay is better placed through its capacity building programme to handle some of this growth through increased imports and exports for the region market.

With more direct shipping calls to Walvis Bay, high efficiencies, short transit times and strategic partnerships, the Walvis Bay corridor routes are now in a robust position to present the SADC market to the rest of the world, Smith added.

“The development of the Trans Caprivi Corridor continued to improve this year with an ongoing marketing effort, not only in Zambia, but also in Lubumbashi, DRC. Our branch office in Lusaka, Zambia, continues to nurture, also with the addition of a programme coordinator who supports cross border facilitation efforts in Namibia and Zambia.

“The prospects of copper mining and production in both the Zambian and DRC markets provide an opportunity for the Port of Walvis Bay to become an alternative trade link to existing export markets,” he said.

He said the Trans Kalahari Corridor route has seen a significant shift whereby road transporters and traders have moved from the traditional trade route via southern Namibia into South Africa onto its route. More than 40% of road transporters are now utilising the route from Johannesburg, South Africa via Botswana into Namibia, Smith disclosed.

He said the Trans Cunene Corridor reached record levels in cargo movement this year with the redevelopment of the Angolan economy as more and more consumables, vehicles and construction materials were ordered and supplied via the Port of Walvis Bay.
“It is anticipated that, with the redevelopment of the Angolan economy, for the next five to10 years traffic volumes will keep on growing and with the lack of infrastructure in Angola, the Trans Cunene Corridor will still remain a real alternative for Angolan cargo,” Smith said.

Source: http://www.economist.com.na/content/view/10571/70/