Vuyisani Moss

Economic Integration in Southern Africa: Role of Transport Corridors Towards Promoting Broader Regional Economic Cooperation in Southern Africa Vuyisani Moss

The Maputo Development Corridor (MDC) was the most significant development and capital intensive project undertaken by the South African government since 1994. It was the most prominent of a number of Spatial Development initiatives (SDIs) promoted by the South African government. It was viewed as a fascinating concept for socio-economic development and integration. It ties Southern Mozambique to SA's Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Limpopo Provinces. The Corridor was an intricate web of private and public sector investments between Witbank in South Africa and Maputo in Mozambique. Major investors included the private sector, multilateral funding agencies like the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA); and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) as well as both SA and Mozambique governments. It comprised new infrastructure investment in ports, rail, roads, institutional reforms at border crossing, and the promotion of the region to private sector investors through a number of investment incentives. Transport linkages in the region are seen as vital components to the process of facilitating broader regional economic co-operation .