Africa-Press – Angola. The senior head of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of African Affairs, Troy Fritell, on Thursday reaffirmed his country commitment to the sustainable development of the Lobito Corridor.
The official made these statements during a press conference, at the end of a visit to the infrastructures of the Lobito Corridor, the Biópio photovoltaic park and the Carrinho Grupo in Benguela province.
He added that “Angola will witness the arrival of more American delegations with the same purpose, as they are involved with the project”.
Asked about the funding of five billion dollars, announced during the recent US-Africa summit, he explained that this amount was raised to serve for investment for all partners of the Corridor. “Everything is being done under Angola vision”, he said.
Troy Fitrell confirmed the existence of a mechanism to monitor the application of these funds.
Also on this subject, the CEO of the Corporate Council of EXIM bank, Florizete Liser, added that her institution has been in contact with the Angolan authorities to exchange information on the use and operation of the investment.
“The Lobito Corridor is a model of what we can achieve to transport to other African countries”, she suggested.
For this year, the Corridor will benefit from funding of US$550 million, according to the head of the American delegation. Agriculture and clean energy are among the priority sectors.
US officials stressed President Donald Trump support for the project, countering rumors about the cut in funding by US financial agencies for the project.
One day after the U.S.-Africa business summit, held from June 22 to 25 in Luanda, the U.S. delegation traveled to Benguela province to check the operation, mainly, of the infrastructure of the Lobito Corridor.
The delegation visited the 188-megawatts Biópio photovoltaic park, where it received, among other information, its connection to the national electricity grid.
Through the railway branch of that company, the delegation was transported by train of the Benguela Railway to return to Lobito, passing through the ore terminal, under the responsibility of the Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium and the multipurpose terminal (general and containerized cargo) of the Port of Lobito, operated by the concessionaire Africa Global Logistic.
The delegation, led by Troy Fitrell, senior officer at the U.S. Department of State”s Bureau of African Affairs, included Florizelle Liser, President and CEO of the Corporate Council in Africa, Noah Zaring, Chargé d”Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Angola and Sao Tome and Principe, senior officials from EXIM Bank”s Finance Corporation, the departments of Commerce and Agriculture, and the Trade Representative.
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