This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7985889.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Cash for key African trade routes Cash for key African trade routes
(about 19 hours later)
More than $1bn (£675bn) has been pledged by international donors for the upgrade of transport links across East and Southern Africa. More than $1bn (£675m) has been pledged by international donors for the upgrade of transport links across East and Southern Africa.
The North-South Corridor initiative aims to get goods to market faster and cheaper with improved infrastructure and more efficient border crossings.The North-South Corridor initiative aims to get goods to market faster and cheaper with improved infrastructure and more efficient border crossings.
The project aims to raise the living standard of millions of people.The project aims to raise the living standard of millions of people.
The money will come from the World Bank, international development agencies and the private sector.The money will come from the World Bank, international development agencies and the private sector.
The UK has also committed £100m to the project at a conference in Zambia.The UK has also committed £100m to the project at a conference in Zambia.
Long waitLong wait
In order to speed up the transportation of goods from Tanzania, via Zambia to the ports of South Africa, the project will remove red tape and oversee the upgrade of 8000 km of road and 600 km of rail track.In order to speed up the transportation of goods from Tanzania, via Zambia to the ports of South Africa, the project will remove red tape and oversee the upgrade of 8000 km of road and 600 km of rail track.
The BBC's reporter Jo Fidgen, reporting from Zambia's busiest border post, Chirundu, says truckers currently have to wait three or four days before they can enter Zimbabwe.The BBC's reporter Jo Fidgen, reporting from Zambia's busiest border post, Chirundu, says truckers currently have to wait three or four days before they can enter Zimbabwe.
The project aims to cut waiting times to two hours by streamlining procedures, she says, which should also reduce HIV transmission rates as truckers will have less time to spend with sex workers at the border.The project aims to cut waiting times to two hours by streamlining procedures, she says, which should also reduce HIV transmission rates as truckers will have less time to spend with sex workers at the border.
The estimated total cost of improving transport and trade links in the region is $12bn to be spent over two decades.The estimated total cost of improving transport and trade links in the region is $12bn to be spent over two decades.
The cooperation of eight African countries - Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa - is needed for the project to be successful.The cooperation of eight African countries - Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa - is needed for the project to be successful.