The Nacala Development Corridor Management Committee (NDCMC) has reiterated that One Stop Border Posts are key towards the establishment seamless movement of goods along the corridor.
The call was made on Thursday when members of NDCMC from Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi today toured
Mchinji - Mwami One Stop Border Post (OSBP) to appreciate the operations of the first ever OSBP as the corridor expects to launch OSBP at Mwanza Border, Dedza and Mulanje.
Speaking during the tour, Secretary for Transport and Public Works Eng. David Mzandu said the visit was conducted for delegates who are participating in the ongoing 9th Tripartite Meeting of the NACALA Development Corridor Management Committee, to appreciate the works of Mchinji -Mwami Border.
"The visit was necessary because the Mwami OSBP is the first OSBPs on the Nacala Corridor to open hence it stands as a learning point as we seek to introduce more OSBPs along the corridor," he said.
Mzandu said the development of the facility has helped to streamline border procedures and facilitate efficient trade and movement of people within Malawi and Zambia through the NACALA Corridor, saying the cross border traders are happy with the reduced clearance time from 8 days to 48 hours.
Permanent Secretary for Zambia's Ministry of Transport and Logistics Mwalusaka Fredrick expressed satisfaction with the facility, adding that many efforts should be put in place in identifying areas of improvement.
Mozambique's Permanent Secretary Ambr'osio Adolfo Sitoe commended the governments of Malawi and Zambia for implementing the initiative in improving trade along the NACALA Corridor, noting it will address bottlenecks being faced in terms of regional coordination.
Sitoe added that the initiative would among others facilitate trade, develop volume chains, leverage market access and improve regional coordination.
During the visit delegates noted operational and infrastructural areas they recommend for improve in the yet to be commissioned or constructed OBPSs.
Meanwhile on the Malawian side of the Corridor, two new OSBP facilities have been constructected in Dedza and Mwanza and another one is expected to be constructed at Muloza Border supported by World Bank.
The 9th NDCMC is taking place in Lilongwe with the support of the Southern Africa Trade Connectivity Project (SATCP) funded by World Bank.