AFRICA OPPORTUNITY: Repositioning Landlocked African Economies as “Land-Linked” Trade Hubs

Sixteen landlocked African countries face some of the steepest trade barriers in the world, with transport costs nearly 50% higher than the global average and imports taking twice as long to arrive. Despite being home to more than 7% of the world’s population, these nations contribute just 1.2% of global trade.

According to a new UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report, this narrative can change. With targeted reforms, stronger regional cooperation, and strategic infrastructure investment, Africa’s landlocked states could reposition themselves as connected “land-linked” trade hubs.

At the heart of this transformation are regional transport corridors. Established routes such as the North–South, Central, and Abidjan–Lagos corridors already serve as critical arteries for trade. But emerging links—including the Walvis Bay Corridor, the Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Corridor, and the Central African Corridor—hold significant untapped potential to connect interior economies with global markets.

The integration of multimodal systems—rail, road, and port networks spanning national boundaries—offers benefits far beyond faster transit. Improved connectivity can stimulate industrial investment, expand agro-processing industries, and enable countries such as Uganda, Zambia, and Niger to shift from exporting raw commodities to producing higher-value goods locally.

But connectivity is not only about physical infrastructure. UNCTAD stresses the importance of harmonised customs procedures, digital border management, and regional policy alignment to ensure smoother trade flows. By adopting these measures, African countries could slash transport times, lower costs, and build more resilient value chains.

If executed effectively, this approach could unlock new opportunities in manufacturing, agro-processing, and services for economies long disadvantaged by geography.

The critical question now is whether Africa can accelerate both corridor development and digital readiness fast enough to integrate its landlocked economies into the heart of continental and global trade.

By: Hendrik Malan