Tripartite Task Force Infrastructure

Features

Guest writers comment on trade in southern Africa.

Tripartite talks set new trade path

The recent Tripartite Summit in Uganda between COMESA, the EAC and SADC is a symbolic step forward for regional integration, writes Dianna Games

Regional Infrastructure Gains Ground in SADC

A renewed commitment to regional infrastructure in SADC is apparent and a host of programmes are being developed. John Rocha looks at what is happening and ways to improve the project pipeline

The real business of regional integration

Greg Mills looks at the case of Rwanda in analysing the root causes of high transport and trade costs across Africa's borders

Kazungula Bridge

Dianna Games considers if improved infrastructure alone will help the region's traders

Road_building_shadow If the Task Force sub-committee on Trade and Customs is working on ways to minimise delays at borders, the Infrastructure Committee is doing the same to ensure that there are no hold ups on the physical infrastructure upon which the lorries, boats and planes depend for their journeys.

The committee is therefore working on areas of functional cooperation in: surface transport; railways; maritime transport, ports and inland waterways; civil aviation; ICT and Energy.

SADC has already approved a Corridor Infrastructure Development and Transport & Trade Facilitation Programme which is well advanced and takes into account the need for harmonisation with work being done by the other two RTAs. Progress is also being made on the North South Corridor work which is an initiative of the Tripartite Task Force being undertaken through the Aid for Trade programme by RTFP covering the regions of all three RTAs (see Aid for Trade Map).