WINDHOEK, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Climate change has a negative impact on road development in Africa, Namibian Finance Minister Calle Schlettwein said here Wednesday.
The minister said this at the official opening of African Road Maintenance Funds Association of Southern Africa Focal Group meeting in Windhoek.
Schlettwein said roads of today have to be ecologically responsive using materials that align to challenges posed by global warming.
"At the same time roads in Africa need to withstand increasingly extreme weather patterns as direct results of climate change," he said.
"Further, the development of sustainable conducive roads should be responsive to the modernization, aspiration of younger generations and the ever advising technologies," he said.
Schlettwein reiterated that African should be able to travel across borders and move goods needed for improved services efficiently and cost effectively.
"This in essence promotes trade and economic growth," said the minister.
"In response to this need Namibia has in particular invested heavily in improving the various transport corridors, including Trans Zambezi, Trans Kunene and Trans Kalahari road corridors as well as the expansion and deepening of our major Port of Walvis Bay," he said.
"So as to ensure efficient intermodal transport to and from the region. Formerly land locked countries have become land linked countries via improved road networks and dry ports," he said.
The meeting, attended by officials from Malawi, Zambia and Namibia, is expected to end Thursday.
