Zambia will host the second high-level Lobito Corridor Coordination Meeting in Lusaka from October 5th to 6th, with governments and private-sector stakeholders expected to push for specific investments and reforms to turn the corridor into a functioning regional trade and investment platform.
The meeting, to be held at the InterContinental Hotel, will bring together Zambia, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, development partners and private-sector representatives.
The Ministry of Finance and National Planning says the discussions will move from broad commitments towards measurable delivery priorities, including infrastructure investment, private-sector mobilisation and trade facilitation.
The agenda will also cover priority road and rail investments, feeder networks and cross-border infrastructure requirements, as well as development masterplans and an update on the operations of the Lobito Atlantic Railway.
Delegates will also consider the institutional work programme of the Lobito Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency and identify financing gaps, technical-assistance needs and reforms required to improve the investment environment.
The Ministry says priority actions for the next six to 24 months, implementation milestones and areas requiring bilateral, trilateral or development-partner follow-up will also be discussed.
For Zambia, the Government says the Lobito Corridor is more than a transport route, as it has the potential to connect productive sectors such as mining, agriculture, energy and manufacturing to regional and global markets.
The meeting is expected to be officially opened by President Hakainde Hichilema, alongside representatives from Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the World Bank Group, represented by its Managing Director for Operations, Anna Bjerde.
The Ministry says infrastructure investments alone will not deliver the full economic benefits of the corridor, and must be matched by efficient border systems, predictable customs procedures, stronger institutions and competitive financing.
Government says it expects the Lusaka meeting to strengthen coordination among Zambia, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo and help move the Lobito Corridor from high-level commitment towards coordinated implementation, bankable investment and measurable development outcomes.
The ultimate objective is to translate regional cooperation and infrastructure investment into increased production and trade, stronger businesses, productive employment and higher incomes across the participating countries.
By Rachel Mumba
