Southern Africa
The corridor is considered the backbone of the SADC region, spanning from Durban to Kolwezi in the DRC. Image: Pexels

Home » Southern Africa’s planned ‘smart economic corridor’ to generate more jobs

Southern Africa’s planned ‘smart economic corridor’ to generate more jobs

A bold new plan for Southern Africa’s busiest trade and transit route could generate more than 1.6 million jobs.

By SAPeople Staff Writer
11-08-25 13:29
in Featured
Southern Africa
The corridor is considered the backbone of the SADC region, spanning from Durban to Kolwezi in the DRC. Image: Pexels

Seven Southern African Development Community (SADC) nations have officially endorsed a plan to unlock $16.1 billion in regional GDP and create over 1.6 million jobs.

SADC aims to transform the North-South Corridor (NSC) into a “smart economic corridor,” positioning it as a key hub for industrialisation, sustainable development, and inclusive growth.

At a recent high-level workshop in Johannesburg, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—together with international development partners—backed the NSC Economic Corridor Pilot Programme.

This approval paves the way for the corridor to evolve from a purely transit and trade corridor into a fully integrated economic corridor.

The Southern African economy

Stretching from Durban to Kolwezi in the DRC, the NSC carries more than 60% of all SADC trade. In the process, it serves over half of the region’s population.

The corridor runs along key Trans-African Highways, crosses rich mineral belts in the DRC, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, and passes through prime agricultural zones and major river basins, including the Zambezi and Limpopo.

With access to the Southern African Power Pool Grid and regional ICT infrastructure, the route is strategically placed to boost manufacturing, strengthen value chains, and modernise agriculture.

The “smart corridor” concept aims to concentrate growth hubs within easy reach of core infrastructure.

This will ensure businesses, farmers, and communities benefit from improved transport, power, and digital connectivity.

The corridor

The NSC corridor is the backbone of the SADC region, extending from Durban, South Africa, to Kolwezi in the DRC.

It overlaps with several Trans-African Highways (TAH), including:

  • TAH3: Cape Town to Tripoli
  • TAH4: Cape Town to Cairo
  • TAH9: Beira to Lobito

The NSC Economic Corridor Pilot Programme, is expected to launch in 2026. Crucially, the initiative will focus on opportunities for youth, women, and small and medium-sized enterprises.

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