Cross border

The transport system in a country is critical for mobility and economic development. Passenger mobility is a necessity for social and economic purposes. Economic mobility has been on the increase in the 21 st century due to globalisation. The commonly used mode of passenger transportation in developing countries such as Zimbabwe is road. Zimbabwe has experienced economic challenges since the turn of the millennium in 2000. The economic challenges emanated from failure to attract foreign investments and the demise of the Zimbabwean currency. As a result, there was widespread closure of companies which led to the increase in cross-border movement of passengers, for trade purposes, that is, import and export of various wares. The resultant growth in demand for passenger transportation across borders created challenges for the transport operators, border authorities, passengers as well as society in general. The study therefore assesses the technological innovations for organising, operating and managing fleet, tracking the passenger baggage, improving passenger safety and border clearance processes. There are technologies useful for these processes, thus, creating innovative passenger transport processes that are both efficient and effective. The study at Roadport establishes from passenger transport operators, passengers, Roadport and government authorities on the innovative technologies and processes used to ensure sustainability of passenger transportation. The study is an exploratory descriptive survey meant to establish the status of the use of technology in passenger transportation in Zimbabwe. Findings from the study will inform transport policy makers and passenger transport industry stakeholders on the use of technology that enhances sustainability of the industry and individual businesses.

This study describes business developments in the Macau-Zhuhai-Hengqin border region from an entrepreneurship perspective. The purpose is to understand the nature and extent of cross-border entrepreneurship in this border region. We first review literature about entrepreneurship in cross border regions and develop a conceptual framework. Then, as background, we discuss the relationship between entrepreneurship and regional development. Given the significant impact of tourism in Macau and Hengqin, we also review literature about tourism development from an innovation perspective. Next, we provide an overview of the Macau-Zhuhai-Hengqin border region that includes key socio-economic indicators. After we present a series of case studies about firms doing business in the Macau-Zhuhai border region that are located in the Zhuhai Macau Cross Border Industrial Park and the Hengqin Innovalley Park. Last, we develop a documentary analysis of business sectors emerging in Hengqin that have participation of companies from Macau. The results indicate that entrepreneurship in the Macau-Zhuhai-Hengqin border region has gained a new impetus after the creation of the Hengqin New Area. Public and private organizations from Macau have taken advantage of the opportunities available. The governments of Macau and Zhuhai play leading roles not only at policy level but also in launching key strategic projects. Several policies aim at attracting talents and entrepreneurship based on knowledge, innovation and technology. As of 2019, the investment of Macau companies in Hengqin is estimated in RMB 11.6 billion in traditional Chinese medicine, living and health services, and multipurpose complexes. The Macau-Hengqin cross border innovation system is still in early stage of development. Key policies have been developed and the first series of investment projects are about to be completed in 2020. The main challenges for developing this cross border system will be the development of new interorganizational systems to have positive impact on knowledge creation, cluster-based development, cross-border partnerships, business networks, and institutions.

In European spatial development policy, the so-called "culture of mobility" is one of the basic discourses clearly framed by the European Spatial Development Perspective with its main target being 'transcending spatial distances across Europe'. In the European periphery, such as the border zone between Greece and its neighbouring countries, problems of uneven development, differences in the institutional context and transitional processes make the study of spatial processes in the border regions a matter of special importance. In the Northern Greek border zone, the drastic improvement of road transport infrastructure, with the completion of the EU co-funded Egnatia motorway along with its vertical axes, has not only raised the traditional remoteness and bad accessibility of this zone; it has also affected drastically trans-border connectivity, as it shortened considerably the time distances between border regions. The improved road infrastructure is expected to hav...