The Southern African Development Community (SADC) seeks to deepen economic integration among its members through the SADC free trade area that came into effect in January 2008. Transport and communications systems have an important bearing on economic integration and development because they can be significant non-tariff barriers. The SADC Protocol on Transport, Communications and Meteorology is the instrument through which transport and communications constraints are to be addressed. Within the SADC region road and rail transport are the main means of handling the bulk of imports and exports in the various countries. The region faces three major transport infrastructure challenges: lack of an adequate and reliable road and rail network; non-existent harmonization of road and rail-user policies; and challenges produced by the greater emphasis being placed on private participation and public-private sector partnerships as investment methods in infrastructure development. The article provides an overall view of the nature of the rail and road transport network systems in the SADC region. It discusses initiatives at both country and regional levels to address transport constraints and the importance of inter-country regional transport corridors, ten of which were in place by the end of 2006. The neo-functional integration model provides theoretical justification for the SADC joint approach to infrastructure development. Joint cooperation to address transport and communication constraints will assist in reducing transport-related investment risks, thereby helping the SADC region to provide support to the current industrial base as well as build a favourable investment climate. App., bibliogr., note, sum. [ASC Leiden abstract]
