Africa-Press – Angola. Angolan civil society organizations state that the Lobito Corridor’s impact on community life still falls short of expectations. NGOs urge institutions to invest in community development.
Along the Lobito Corridor, in provinces such as Benguela, Huambo, and Bié, European investment is beginning to emerge as part of the railway project that aims to connect Angola to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia. The train already transports various Angolan agricultural products, and mineral exports through the corridor are a reality.
However, Angola and local communities are not yet reaping significant benefits from the investments, as recognized by representatives of civil society and the European Union (EU) itself.
Moisés Festos, from the non-governmental organization (NGO) Development Workshop (DW), recommends that priority be given to members of local communities regarding employment opportunities involving unskilled labor.
According to Festos, only when there is a need for skilled workers should labor be hired from outside the communities. “Then, yes, it can be used outside the communities. But what we are advocating—the labor force that exists locally—should be considered first and foremost in the directly affected communities,” he states.
Greater dissemination
Moisés Festos also advocates for greater awareness of the benefits of the Lobito Corridor to local populations and expresses concern about the future of community lands along the railway line. “We, as a civil society, have not yet seen any significant impact on the communities along the Lobito Corridor,” he warns.
João Misselo da Silva, a consultant for the Angolan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also acknowledges that there are no tangible results yet, but highlights the political will of the government and its international partners, notably the European Union and the United States, to attract investment for the project.
“Communities must be involved in both the design and development of policies aimed at different types of investments,” says the consultant, adding that it is also necessary to promote a more articulated and coordinated dialogue between all stakeholders to promote good governance and the defense of human rights.
International certification
Domestic producers have not yet begun exporting outside the continent. Exports of goods produced in Angola through the Lobito Corridor are expected to become a reality soon, but there are concerns about the certification requirements for international markets.
Angolan businessman Luís Assis, who produces corn on a large scale, is asking for EU support in this process. “We’re moving toward a phase where, in the near future, we’ll want to export, and the EU has certification requirements,” he notes. Therefore, he requests the bloc’s support in facilitating this process “so that Angolan products meet European requirements,” he explains.
During a visit to the Lobito Corridor in the provinces of Huambo and Bié, the European Union Ambassador to Angola, Rosário Bento Pais, assured that Angolan avocados do not require certification to enter Europe, although other products do. The ambassador noted that a laboratory has already been set up in Luanda for this purpose.
Rosário expects the certification process to begin this year. Regarding the gains already achieved, the ambassador emphasized that the project is just beginning. Currently, the corridor transports goods to the port of Lobito and sulfur to Congo.
“The European Union’s investment is an economic development project. The idea is to create a foundation for communities to have jobs, training, and skills, so they can be absorbed by the companies that set up shop here,” explained Bento Pais. “That’s what the European project for the Lobito Corridor represents.”
The diplomatic representative also emphasized that the European Union is working to attract more private investors along the corridor.
First avocado export
“The Lobito Corridor won’t be built overnight,” she warned, noting that the project currently serves as transportation infrastructure. “The concession was awarded to a European consortium formed by companies from Portugal, Belgium, and Switzerland. The port of Lobito, in turn, is being managed by a Franco-Italian company. These investments demonstrate Europe’s commitment to the region’s development, in partnership with the Angolan government and local communities,” the European diplomat added.
Angolan Secretary of State for Land Transportation, Jorge Bengue, points to the possibility of farmers transporting their produce by rail as a benefit, avoiding losses caused by the lack of roads. Bengue also highlights the preparation of the first major export of Angolan avocados to the Netherlands.
“We have concrete gains. Naturally, it’s still too early to make an in-depth analysis, but the first impressions are exactly what we’re seeing,” he says. “Today, when we visit the Corridor, we don’t just see maps and intentions. We see concrete things,” he explains.
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