RAIL TRANSPORT KEY TO SADC BUSINESS INTEGRATION, SAYS TAYALI 

TRANSPORT and Logistics Minister Frank Tayali says Zambia is accelerating efforts to ensure that the railway sector improves its efficiency and contributes to the movement of heavy and bulk cargo in the region, thereby preserving the road infrastructure.

Mr Tayali has further noted that collaboration with the private sector is key towards the implementation of regional rail projects and could open up critical railway corridors which will enable trains to operate seamlessly across the SADC region and beyond.

The Minister was speaking in Johannesburg, South Africa after delivering a speech at the Southern African Railways Association (SARA) Rail Conference and Exhibition.

“We are calling for the private sector to partner with the Government of the Republic of Zambia in a project we are calling Greenfield railway projects that will facilitate linkages in the region” said Mr Tayali,

And Mr Tayali says the Zambian Government has developed a National Transport Infrastructure Master Plan which contains the comprehensive expansion of domestic rail networks that are designed to link into the regional networks.

This is in line with the Government’s aspiration in the transport Sector, to create an efficient and integrated inter-modal transport system which will provide for inter-linkages among the four modes of transport which are, Rail, Road, Air and Water.

The Southern African Railway Associations (SARA) event is Africa’s only railway event hosted by Railway Operators and this includes Transport Ministers from the region, companies, customers, suppliers and captains of industry.