The South African
government is working
on removing barriers to
trade with the country’s
immediate neighbours.
On November 7, Parliament’s
standing committee on finance
adopted a bilateral agreement
between South Africa and
Mozambique that brings the
creation of a one-stop border
post between the two countries
a step closer after more than
six years of
negotiations.
The
implementation
of the one-stop
border post at
the Lebombo-
Ressano
Garcia border
could spur the
introduction of
similar facilities
throughout
the Southern
African Development
Community (SADC), which
has made a commitment to
stimulating trade through more
efficient border crossings.
Africa’s only one-stop border
post is at Chirundu, which is the
main crossing point for traffic
travelling
between Lusaka
and Harare.
South Africa
has opened
discussions
with Zimbabwe
about having
a one-stop
border post at
the congested
Beitbridge
border to
the south
– which will speed up the
movement of freight from
Durban and Gauteng into the
hinterland.
In August 2012 South Africa
and neighbouring Botswana
signed a memorandum of
understanding to promote trade
and investment
between the
two countries
and create
opportunities for
industrialisation
and the
manufacturing
sectors.
To the west, president Jacob
Zuma called for the
prioritisation of cross-border
infrastructure between Namibia
and South Africa in an address to
the Namibian parliament early in
November.
Namibia and South Africa
have signed 52 agreements and
memorandums of understanding.
“It is our belief that the
establishment of a free-trade area
in the sub-Saharan African region
will greatly
enhance our
ability to trade
with one another
and ensure the
strengthening
of the region as
a whole,” Zuma
said.
The World Bank estimates that
a one-day reduction in inland
travel time in sub-Saharan
Africa could result in a 7%
increase in exports.
A 10% reduction in logisticsrelated
costs through greater
efficiency could increase
exports 4.7%.
INSERT 1
South Africa has opened
discussions with Zimbabwe
about having a onestop
border post at the
congested Beitbridge
border to the south.
INSERT 2
7% The estimated increase in exports
as a result of a one-day reduction in
inland travel time.
