The Application of Spatial Development Initiatives in South Africa
The Maputo Development Corridor is the most advanced and the best known of a programme of strategic initiatives undertaken by the South African government aimed at generating long term, internationally competitive growth and development, and at restructuring the "apartheid" space economy. This programme of initiatives (which is one of a number of initiatives underway in South Africa at present is referred to as the Spatial Development Initiatives (SDI) programme. Several types of SDI's have been identified and developed, the most important of which are:

1	Regional Industrial SDI's (e.g. Southern KwaZulu Natal from Richards Bay to Durban/Pietermaritzburg)
2	Agri-Tourism SDI's (e.g. The Wild Coast and the Lubombo Initiative)
3	Mixed industrial and agri-tourism SDI's (e.g. The Maputo Development Corridor)
4	Focussed Industrial Development Areas (e.g. The Industrial Development Zones (IDZ's), local industrial parks(LIP's), and development nodes.
5	Metropolitan Corridors (e.g. The Cape Town corridor from Phillipi to Wynberg).

An understanding of the concept, objectives and principles which under-pin the SDI's is important because it is the application of these principles which could result in the difference between the development of transportation routes as opposed to economic development corridors;

The Concept of SDI's in South Africa
The term "Spatial Development Initiatives" or SDI's was coined by the national departments of Transport and Trade & Industry to describe a programme of strategic initiatives by government aimed at unlocking the inherent and under-utilised economic development potential of certain specific spatial locations in South Africa. This initiative must be placed in the context of the new paradigm adopted by the government of South Africa. A key component of this paradigm is the move away from the protected and isolated approach to economic development towards one in which international competitiveness, regional cooperation, and a more diversified ownership base is paramount.

Following on from the success of the Maputo Development Corridor, the focus of the SDI concept has broadened to incorporate as set of initiatives concerned with unlocking the inherent un/under-utilised development potential of certain strategically important spatial locations in South Africa . There are at present a number of these initiatives being pursued by national, provincial and local government in South Africa. They differ spatially and structurally, depending on the nature of their underlying economic potential and existing economic activity.

The Key Objectives of the SDI's
Firstly , to generate sustainable economic growth and development in relatively under-developed areas, according to the inherent economic potential of the locality.
Secondly , to generate long term and sustainable employment for the local inhabitants of the SDI area and for the nation in general.
Thirdly , to maximise the extent to which private sector investment and lending can be mobilised into the SDI area. This has the added benefit of lessening the already unachievable demands on the government ficus for the implementation of much needed development projects.
Fourthly , to exploit the spin-off opportunities that arise from this relative crowding-in of private and public sector investments.
Finally , to exploit the under-utilised locational and economic advantages for export-orientated growth of the SDI's. In terms of this objective, government is giving specific attention to an effective package of supply side measures, a revamp of the regulatory framework to facilitate export strategy, trade treaties, and the restructuring of major import conditions.