Namibia's Minister of Works and Transport and his Botswana counterpart are happy with the progress made so far with the implementation of the Trans-Kalahari Railway Line Project.

The two ministers briefed the media on the development at Swakopmund during a Joint Ministerial Committee meeting.

The bilateral Trans-Kalahari Railway Line is expected to link the Port of Walvis Bay via Gobabis to Botswana and the SADC to enhance trade in the region.

John Mutorwa says major strides have been made since the signing of an agreement ten years ago, including the establishment of a project coordination office based in Windhoek.

Botswana has a dry port at Walvis Bay, which could benefit from the ability to move large volumes of cargo between the two countries.

Botswana's Minister of Transport and Public Works, Eric Molale, says the railway project speaks to the goals of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Initiative and the SADC Regional Integration Plan.

Appointed Project coordinators in both countries are happy with the number of companies that have expressed interest in executing the project on the develop-operate-transfer model.

At least 13 companies have submitted expressions of interest, and preference will be given to investors from Namibia and Botswana to develop the about 1,500-kilometer rail.

The two countries collaborated on the construction of the Trans-Kalahari Corridor, alongside which the railway is expected to run.