North South Corridor conference opens

North South Corridor conference opens
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe
Monday, April 06, 2009 3:30:18 PM

THE North South Corridor conference aimed at agreeing on an ambitious and innovative infrastructure development and trade reform programme for southern and eastern Africa opens today at Mulungushi International Conference Centre.

The two-day high level event is aimed at looking at the trade reform programme, alongside donor commitments, which will transform trading opportunities in southern and eastern Africa.

The North South Corridor, after the conference, hopes to enable producers across the region to access regional and international markets quickly and cost effectively, thus significantly boosting trade and regional competitiveness.

The project represents a unique and innovative approach to supporting and developing regional infrastructure projects.

The project is expected to take a holistic approach to transport system planning and maintenance, which will ultimately give producers in the region access to a greater choice of road and rail networks.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and South African President Kgalema Motlanthe are expected to attend the conference.

President Museveni will represent the Eastern African Community (EAC), President Kibaki will represent Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) while President Motlanthe will represent the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

Others dignitaries to attend the conference, which will be officially opened by President Rupiah Banda, include World Bank vice-president for Africa Obiageli Katryn Ezekwesili, African Development Bank (AfDB) president Dr Donald Kaberuka, European Commission Commissioner of Trade Baroness Ashton, World Trade Organisation (WTO) secretary general Pascal Lamy and African Union Commission chairman Jean Ping.