The construction of transport infrastructure has been one of the key factors restricting trade between African countries. Namibia's Minister of Works and Transport, Mutorwa, and Botswana's Minister of Transport and Public Affairs, Moralai, recently signed a memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Trans-Kalahari Railway project, reaffirming their commitment to accelerate the progress of the project to boost trade and tourism and create jobs between the two countries.

According to the agreement signed by the railway authorities of the two countries, the two sides will set up a technical team and the Bolivian side will pay for the renovation of the storage facilities at the Gababis station in Namibia. The Trans-Kalahari Railway, with a total length of 1,447 km, will be launched in 2010, starting from Mmamabula in Botswana and ending at the city of Whale Bay in Namibia, passing through Gobabis and Okahanga.

Nanorail plans to ship 50,000 tonnes of coal a month from Botswana via Gobabis to Whale Bay, Chief Executive Johny Smith told Reuters. Editor/Xu Shengpeng