Africa-Press – Angola. The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) highlighted, in Luanda, the potential of the Lobito Corridor, arguing that the railway infrastructure should not only serve for connectivity, but for the development of populations.
“The Lobito Corridor is a historic landmark [in the region], it is an infrastructure that connects people, connects markets and consequently creates jobs, but we also need to keep in mind the human component, not just as a connectivity factor”, said Amina Jane Mohammed, in Luanda.
Speaking after a meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço at the Presidential Palace, the diplomat argued that infrastructure should contribute to socioeconomic development, with the creation of food systems across its entirety.
“We are talking about transport, not just the transport of goods and services, but we also need to take into account how to create development for all the populations living along the corridor, also taking into account environmental issues, in such a way that it does not harm the environment while creating employment opportunities,” he said.
In Angola, to strengthen bilateral relations between the Government of the Portuguese-speaking African country and the UN, the official also referred to the importance of “stimulating the blue economy”, within the scope of the actions of the Lobito Corridor.
Amina Jane Mohammed argued that, for the specific case, it will be necessary to “look not only at the land-based part, but also at its extension to the sea”, ensuring that the issue will be addressed at the conferences and summits already scheduled by the UN.
With the Angolan President, the United Nations official said that she addressed the issue of sustainable development in Africa, issues of peace and security, humanitarian crisis, global tensions, “at a time when the world is experiencing turbulent situations”.
“We also talked about how we can leverage and develop Africa, especially taking into account the goals and visions of each country,” he noted. Amina Jane Mohamed, who is visiting the Lobito Corridor, located in the Angolan province of Benguela, on Friday, also said that human development and gender issues were at the center of the conversation she had with the Angolan head of state.
António Guterres’ deputy, who is currently working in Angola, is the highest-ranking United Nations official to visit Angola, after former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2012.
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