AMBASSADOR SPEECHES

Ambassador Canavan Remarks;American Business Council Seminar.

February 15, 2008 

Honorable Minister of Works and Transport Lesego Motsumi CEO of the Road Freight Association Ms. Shamini Naidoo H.E. Ambassador of Russian Federation Igor Liakin-Frolov Chairman of the American Business Council Mr. Kagiso Mmusi Members of the American Business Council Ladies and Gentleman All Protocol Observed              Before I begin this morning, I’d like to start out by paying tribute to Evans Marowa, with whom many of you have had the pleasure of working and knowing.  Evans was the transportation advisor for USAID’s Trade Hub and his experience, knowledge, and contacts throughout Southern Africa provided the foundation and credibility for the Trade Hub’s successful transport work on ports, railways, and the Trans Kalahari, Dar Es Salaam, and Maputo Corridors.            Sadly, Evans died in a car accident outside Gaborone before Christmas. He is already sorely missed at the Trade Hub and, I am sure, by all his friends and colleagues who were fortunate enough to have known him.  Evans would have appreciated the theme of today’s seminar, “Which Port: The Great Debate,” as it signifies the importance transportation will play as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) solidifies its free trade area and moves towards a customs union.  For SADC to meet it goals, become fully integrated, and bring prosperity to its citizens, the member states will need efficiently-run ports to receive goods and export its products to the world, require a customs system that moves goods and people quickly and safely, call for modern airports that give a positive first and last impression to visitors, and need paved roads that can bring development to the farthest corners of the region. The United States recognizes the importance of transportation to its development and its citizens.  As U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters said, “since our earliest days, transportation has been synonymous with freedom and opportunity in America.”  Transportation and its improvements have underpinned America’s history and its success, allowing Americans the freedom to chase dreams, pursue opportunities, and reach their potential.  In the beginning, ships carried English colonists seeking religious freedom to a new world and a new life.  As America grew, rivers, roads, and railways were built so pioneers could move west and settle a new frontier.  Later, transportation systems such as subways and cable cars gave American the freedom to live, work, and shop where they wanted.  Modern transportation such as automobiles and airplanes that we now take for granted changed the landscape of America as it connected the country and allowed for unprecedented freedom of movement for Americans and our products.            Recognizing the importance of transportation to the development of the SADC region, the U.S. government, mainly through our Southern Africa Global Competitiveness Hub – which we commonly call “the Trade Hub”- based in Gaborone, has been active in assisting SADC members improve their transportation systems and services.           The Trade Hub provided technical assistance in developing and piloting the Single Administrative Document - known as SAD 500 -  which is a multi-purpose customs declaration form covering imports, exports, cross-border and transit movements.  The use of such a form reduces paperwork and allows for quicker turnaround times with fewer errors, less confusion, lower costs, and improved trade efficiencies.  The SAD 500 is now used in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland.  Based on its success, the Trade Hub is now assisting in its roll-out in non-SACU countries.           Other transport projects the Trade Hub is involved in include: assisting SADC member states in improving their maritime security so they comply with the International Ship and Port Facilities Security Code;   supporting the development of regional road corridors in the Southern African region; building capacity for the Southern Africa Railways Association; and, when requested, facilitating and providing negotiating resources in order to close on transport infrastructure deals.            These are just a few examples of where and how the U.S. government is helping SADC and its member states.  The common denominator of all the projects the Trade Hub is involved in is to reduce transit times and costs and to improve the transport network integration in SADC.  A modern, efficient transport system – from rails to ports to roads which involves importers and exporters, customs officials and brokers, truckers and couriers – can have the same influence on the success of Botswana and SADC that it has had in America.  I commend the American Business Council for recognizing the importance transportation will play in the future of this region and hope that everyone’s participation in this seminar will lead to the road where a world-class transportation system is underpinning the growth and prosperity of SADC and its citizens.  Pula!