The 10th Tripartite Meeting of the Nacala Development Corridor Management Committee (NDCMC) is underway in Maputo, Mozambique, bringing together delegations from Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia to review progress and advance cooperation on regional trade and transport.
The meeting began with a Joint Technical Committee session, with Day One largely devoted to opening formalities, a review of resolutions from the previous meeting and updates on ongoing operations along the Nacala Corridor.
Discussions are being held within the framework of the Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project (SATCP), supported by the World Bank.
Mozambique’s Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Irina Ribeiro, described the corridor as central to the economic future of the three countries. She said the project was a practical response to global economic challenges, noting that, “the Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project emerges as a concrete response to these challenges, creating conditions for a competitive economic environment favourable to investment.”
Ribeiro noted key outcomes expected from the project, including trade facilitation reforms, the development of regional value chains and improved regional coordination. She also commended the World Bank for its continued support.
“World Bank interventions in digital trade, border management and transport infrastructure are crucial factors for the growth and economic and social development of our countries,” added Ribeiro.
Leader of the Mozambican delegation, Fernando Sebastião Ouana, emphasised the strategic importance of the Nacala Corridor to all three countries.
He said, “Nacala is a strategic corridor for Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique, and we are meeting here to discuss how to improve operations so that the corridor becomes smoother and more competitive.”
He added that upgrading rail infrastructure in Malawi and constructing new rail links in Zambia were among the key challenges being addressed.
On the Malawi side, Director of Policy and Planning in the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, John Bosco Phiri, explained that the tripartite meetings are rooted in a high-level agreement among the three countries.
“We meet every six months to review operations of the corridor and ensure that the movement of cargo to and from the port is smooth and at reasonable cost,” said Phiri.
Phiri further noted progress within Malawi and the wider tripartite Nacala Corridor framework, pointing to ongoing road rehabilitation works, the establishment of one-stop border posts and the adoption of multimodal transport systems.
He also disclosed that plans are underway to establish a permanent Nacala Corridor Secretariat to oversee logistics, investment and private sector participation among Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.
Delegates expressed optimism that the meeting would strengthen regional integration and deliver long-term economic benefits to Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.
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