SADC Earmarks North-South Corridor as Engine for Regional Integration and Growth
A workshop on the North-South Corridor took place in Johannesburg from 24 to 25 July 2025. The Workshop was attended by representatives from seven SADC member states along the North-South Corridor (#NSC). The idea about how to develop the #NSC into one of the major #EconomicCorridors in Africa and a backbone of regional integration is starting to make its way slowly but surely forward.
The Workshop was held in preparation for the upcoming 45th SADC Summit (#SADC2025) scheduled in August 2025. It follows the SADC Ministerial Round Table held in Harare in February 2025.
Undoubtedly, the NSC is one of the most important land routes in the SADC region: it accounts for over 69% of SADC trade and directly connects seven out of sixteen SADC member states, linking up a common market of 150 million persons, or roughly half of the SADC population.
Geographically, it connects the mines in the Kolwezi region in DR Congo all the way down to the Durban seaport in South Africa. One branch passes through the quadri-border point at Kazungula Bridge, which is at the intersection of the borders of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia.
The #NSC is part and parcel of the Trans-Africa Highway (#TAH) network driven by PIDA and supported under #Agenda2063. Specifically, it is overlays or intersects with TAH3 (Cape Town to Tripoli), TAH4 (Cape Town to Cairo), and TAH9 (Beira to Lobito). The NSC also serves as a pathway for the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) and the regional fiber network.
During the two-day meeting, the concept of a Smart Economic Corridor started to crystallize from the talks. Preliminary studies indicate that the NSC will be able to unlock an estimated USD 16 billion in GDP growth and has the potential to generate 1.6 million jobs across Southern Africa.
In light of its strategic importance, the Workshop recommends that a pilot program for the Smart North-South Corridor to be initiated by 2026 subject to the approval of the Concept Note submitted to the 45th SADC Summit, set to convene in Madagascar on 17 August 2025.