SADC Endorses Transformation of North–South Corridor into Economic Powerhouse
Seven Member States of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have endorsed a plan to transform the North–South Corridor (NSC) from a transit and trade route into a fully integrated smart economic corridor aimed at driving industrialisation, job creation and sustainable development.
At a high-level validation workshop held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 24 to 25 July 2025, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, alongside international cooperation partners and SADC implementing agencies, approved the North–South Corridor Economic Corridor Pilot Programme. The move sets the stage for the corridor’s evolution into a hub of regional economic activity.
The NSC is one of SADC’s most significant trade routes, carrying over 60% of the region’s trade and serving seven countries as well as more than half of the bloc’s population. Stretching from Durban in South Africa to Kolwezi in the DRC, it overlays key Trans-African Highways, including TAH3 (Cape Town to Tripoli), TAH4 (Cape Town to Cairo) and TAH9 (Beira to Lobito).
The route also cuts through some of the region’s most important mineral belts in the DRC, Zambia and Zimbabwe, major agricultural production areas, and river basins such as the Okavango, Zambezi and Limpopo.
With access to the Southern African Power Pool grid and extensive ICT infrastructure, the corridor is positioned to support modern industrial and agricultural practices. The smart economic corridor concept aims to cluster economic growth zones along the route, ensuring businesses and communities have ready access to energy, digital connectivity and infrastructure.
Estimates suggest the transformation could unlock up to $16.1 billion in GDP for the region and create approximately 1.6 million jobs, with strong inclusion of youth, women and small and medium enterprises through manufacturing, value chains and other economic activities.
The pilot phase is scheduled to commence in 2026, following anticipated approval of the concept note by the SADC Council of Ministers and the Summit of Heads of State in August 2025.
