Zambia calls for creation of continental strategic blue print for transport infrastructure development

Zambia has called for the development of a continental long term strategic blue print for transport infrastructure development.

Transport and Logistics Minister, Frank Tayali, said this was to support intra-African trade in the sector expected to expand nearly 50 percent by 2030.

Tayali said this on Wednesday at the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation being held in Beijing, China.

“Intra-African trade in transport services is expected to increase by nearly 50 percent by 2030 from the current flight size of 201 million tonnes per annum to 403 million tonnes per year by 2030, according to the Economic Commision for Africa (ECA),” he said in a statement issued in Lusaka on Thursday.

Tayali said the continental transport infrastructure master plan should speak to the needs of the continent focusing on national and regional mobility and accessibility.

He said the increase in transport services called for increased and improved transport infrastructure connectivity, modernized border crossing points with integrated system across the African Countries.

“There is high need firstly to develop strong political will and political ties as a basis for promoting mutual and practical cooperation between China and the African countries,” Tayali said.

He noted the need to promote and engage in bilateral, multilateral and regional cooperation as a platform to overcome barriers that divide trade and promote investment, and technology.

Tayali said African countries should begin to promote Public-Private Cooperation including government and enterprise linkages with the spirit of working together in financing the projects.

“This can be done through established Development Banks at both national and continental level such as the African Development Bank (AfDB) for possible preparation of infrastructure projects to bankability and further, financing the implementation of such infrastructure projects,” he said.

Tayali further called for enhanced collaboration and partnerships with the private sector and embrace of new methods of project financing such as the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.

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