The Walvis Bay Corridor Group organized an information session under the theme “Beyond Borders” which was held at the Protea Hotel in Chingola, Zambia on Wednesday 16 May 2007.
The information session was attended by captains of the business industries in both Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The session attendants were treated to presentations by the Walvis Bay Corridor Group, on the opportunities provided by the Walvis Bay Corridors in particular the Trans Caprivi Corridor (which traverses from the Port of Walvis Bay in a north-eastern direction to Zambia via the Caprivi Strip in Namibia and crossing the newly constructed Katima Mulilo Bridge over the Zambezi River).
The Namibian Ports Authority and the TransNamib Holdings Ltd. (the Namibian Rail Head) also made presentations on the Port of Walvis Bay (in Namibia) and the rail and road services provided by TransNamib.
The information session was officially opened by speeches from the Government representatives of the Ministry of Transport in Zambia: Mr. David Kema and the counter part Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication in Namibia (Mr. Phillip Amunyela: Under Secretary). The two Governmental officials reiterated the support of the Zambian and Namibian government’s commitment to strengthening economic ties between the two countries by addressing infrastructural and regulatory bottlenecks that pose constraints to business communities in their trading efforts between the two countries. The two Ministries of Transport indicated their continued support in joining the business industry in smoothening obstacles that hamper efficient and seamless transportation of goods, within the regulatory frameworks of transportation which they endeavour to harmonise between the two countries.
Representatives from the Namibian and Zambian private sectors also provided feedback on the usefulness of the Trans Caprivi Corridor Cluster Meetings that have been taking placed with technical support and funding by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) as part of their inter-regional programme in corridor development, as an ideal example of how to ensure long-term autonomous capacity for coordinating trade and transport development in landlocked and neighbouring developing countries. The project was awarded to Walvis Bay Corridors selected as the model corridor on the African continent. [similar corridors initiatives were also selected in South America and Asia].
The private sector expressed their appreciation to the Governments of Namibia and Zambia government and UNCTAD in their dedication and support for including them in deliberations on the development of transport infrastructure for the enhancement of trade between the two countries. Private sector represen-tatives included companies in the transport, mining, manufacturing, wholesale and retail industries.
Zambian and DRC companies in attendance expressed their interest in using the Trans Caprivi Corridor in future, other companies shared their experiences on their usage of the Trans Caprivi Corridor both the positive and challenges they faced on the route. All the remarks made were addressed by the Namibian delegates present at the session (included representatives from the Namibian transport fraternity and governmental departments of Customs & Excise, Home Affairs & Immigration and Transport). Concerns expressed by the Zambian companies were addressed by the Namibian delegation and noted for future discussions and solution-finding in the next TCC Cluster Meeting.
Through financial and technical support of UNCTAD, the success of the TCC Cluster meeting exercises have strengthened trade ties between the two countries and the public and private sector  are working together to streamline bottlenecks still hampering the smooth flow of trade. The Beyond Borders Information Session exercise has strengthened the Walvis Bay Corridor Group promotional campaign in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The aim of the exercise was to create awareness of the opportunity provided to importers, exporters and transporters of the Port of Walvis Bay and the Walvis Bay Corridors (the Trans Caprivi Corridors) as an alternative and competitive transport/trade route for good going to and from Zambia or the southern DRC.
The Trans Caprivi Corridor provides landlocked countries such as Zambia, southern DRC and Zimbabwe access to the Port of Walvis Bay and allows four to five days transit time from Port to final destination. 
Since the completion of the Katima Mulilo Bridge in May 2004 and promotional and facilitatory efforts on the Trans Caprivi Corridor, trade tonnages on the Trans Caprivi Corridor grew more than 140% last year, 2006.
The session was concluded with a luncheon hosted by the Walvis Bay Corridor Group after which business-to-business meetings were conducted between the Namibian and Zambian business delegates.