In May 2024, the Zambian Cabinet approved the Beira Development Corridor Agreement, a project which includes Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.It aims to establish a framework for cooperation on the Beira Corridor.In a statement issued after the cabinet meeting, Zambian transport and logistics minister Frank Tayali said: “This will promote and facilitate infrastructure development, transit-transport cooperation, and cross-border trade among the five member states.”The approved agreement needs to be ratified by the Zambian parliament.It will be the fifth corridor agreement ratified by Zambia since the current government came into power in 2021.According to Tayali, the only remaining agreement under consideration is for the north-south corridor.Beira is a strategic port for Zambia as it is the closest harbour gateway to the Copperbelt. Taya li sa id the development of the Beira Corridor was in line with the Zambian government's aspiration to transform the country into a regional transport and logistics hub. A planned rail link will significantly reduce costs and improve the efficiency of imports and exports. Work on the Beira Corridor, which passes through Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, started in 2009.In 2012, the European Union reported that rehabilitation of the transport infrastructure of the Beira Corridor had been carried out with support from the EU Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund. This included the 2011 reopening of the Sena railway line that had been closed for over 20 years due to the civil war. In addition, the access channel to the Port of Beira was restored.The cost of the entire project, which was cofinanced by the European Investment Bank, amounted to around €190 million. The focus now is on the upgrading and connection of the rail links between the Copperbelt and Port of Beira.The corridor project has been championed by the Port of Beira and hauliers using the route.
