The Chairperson of the Trans-Kalahari Corridor Secretariat says Africa should underscore the importance of road infrastructure and corridor development in achieving economic development.

Orapelenge Mosigi was speaking at the official opening of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade For Demand of Infrastructure and Services workshop underway at Swakopmund.

The aim of the workshop is to see how countries can join forces to minimise crime along the Trans-Kalahari corridor and, at the same time, ensure an efficient flow of trade between the countries.

Mosigi says well-developed corridors enhance accessibility, reliability, and predictability and are key to the facilitation of trade, which stimulates the economy through various domestic economic initiatives while minimising risks.

He is of the opinion that the economic downturn has given opportunities to SADC member states to transform themselves, develop strategies to sustain the recovery beyond the crisis, and optimise trade along the Trans-Kalahari corridor.

"I must also indicate that when we talk about transport, we are talking about the lifeblood of the country's economy because it facilitates growth and development in various sectors of the economy, sectors such as agriculture, where you have to move goods from our farms to markets, and the mining sector, where you can actually mine and export without having transport. Tourism, trade—all these factors depend on transport, and we also know that as countries, we trade with each other, so we need good infrastructure in our countries."

Also speaking at the event was the Executive Director of the Trans-Kalahari Corridor Secretariat, Leslie Mpofu, and the Chief of Energy, Infrastructure, and Services Section, Private Sector Development and Finance Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Robert Lisinge.

The Trans Kalahari Corridor is a tripartite transboundary Corridor Management Institution established with a political and economic vision to pursue or contribute towards regional integration programmes of SADC, SACU, and indeed NEPAD.

The Trans Kalahari Corridor is a road network spanning approximately 1,900 kilometres across the territories of Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.