Africa-Press – Angola. Angolan president João Lourenço on Thursday in Luanda considered it fundamental that the good intentions surrounding the Lobito Corridor be converted into operational decisions and effective execution instruments.
“We need to align priorities, define clear roadmaps, establish responsibilities and create monitoring mechanisms that guarantee a real, measurable and lasting impact,” said the president during his intervention at the Inaugural Coordination Meeting of the Lobito Corridor organized by the Angolan government and the World Bank.
According to the Angolan president, this infrastructure, connecting the continent economically, should become a true engine of economic transformation and regional integration.
Lourenço expressed satisfaction that Luanda is hosting a meeting aimed at continuing the materialization of the vision of regional integration and shared prosperity between Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Zambia.
The president recalled that the three countries have already worked in different formats to establish the Lobito Corridor as a strategic priority, a context in which the coordination mechanism emerges, conceived as a platform for alignment and articulation to maximize results and accelerate implementation.
President João Lourenço stressed that the project is not limited to transport infrastructure, but should boost agribusiness, promote industrial transformation, strengthen regional value chains and create sustainable economic opportunities, with the generation of decent jobs, especially for young people and women, for the effective improvement of the quality of life of the populations.
Lourenço defended the need to ensure the full rehabilitation and interconnection of the railway, road and energy infrastructures that constitute the backbone of the corridor, with emphasis on the rehabilitation of the railway section in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the railway and road interconnection to Zambia and the expansion of the energy interconnection from Angola to the region.
According to the Angolan Head of State, only with these assumptions will it be possible to consolidate a true development corridor, capable of integrating the countries involved in a more competitive way in the global economy.
João Lourenço emphasized that Angola has recorded positive and sustained economic growth in recent years, based on macroeconomic stabilization and economic diversification, while strengthening the conditions of confidence and predictability for structural investments.
He highlighted the partnership with the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the European Union, the United States of America, and other multilateral, bilateral, and private sector partners, whose support has been crucial for the consolidation of the project.
As an example of the transition from vision to execution, he said that on December 17, 2025, a global financing agreement of 653 million US dollars was signed to support the realization and modernization of the railway axis and associated logistics components of the Lobito Corridor, of which 553 million US dollars came from the United States Development Finance Corporation and 200 million from the Development Bank of South Africa.
Lourenço said this step confirms the project’s ability to mobilize structured and long-term financing, reinforces its credibility and bankability, and creates a demonstrative effect for new investors, while imposing greater collective responsibility in the efficient execution of the works, reforms, and defined goals.
Angola, the president said, remains committed to regional cooperation, institutional strengthening, and a transparent partnership with all development partners, with a view to transforming the Lobito Corridor into a catalyst for inclusive and sustainable development.
“The Lobito Corridor is more than an infrastructure project. It is a project of trust, integration and a shared future,” Lourenço said, underscoring that its success will be measured by its impact on the lives of the population, with more jobs for young people, higher income for families, new opportunities for communities and more resilient economies.
Importance of the Lobito Corridor
The Lobito Corridor is a transnational railway and logistics infrastructure project linking the Port of Lobito in Angola to the interior of Southern Africa, with a special focus on the mining regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.
The initiative aims to create a competitive route for the transport of goods, especially minerals, connecting the production centers in the interior of the region to international markets via the Atlantic Ocean.
The central axis of the corridor is based on the Lobito–Luau railway, an integral part of the Benguela Railway, with an approximate length of 1,300 kilometers in Angolan territory and rail links to the DRC and Zambia.
Currently, the corridor handles a transport volume of approximately 125,000 tons of cargo per year, mostly minerals, and is responsible for creating more than 7,500 direct and indirect jobs throughout the logistics chain.
The operation and management of the railway infrastructure are granted to Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR), an international joint venture that holds a 30-year concession to operate, maintain, and modernize the line. The project also includes cargo and logistics terminals, maintenance centers, technical training programs, and the rehabilitation of railway stations and workshops.
From an economic and commercial standpoint, the Lobito Corridor plays a strategic role in facilitating the export of critical minerals, such as copper and cobalt, essential for global clean energy chains. The route also allows for reduced logistics costs and transport time compared to alternative corridors via the south or east of the African continent.
The project is anchored in a tripartite agreement between Angola, DRC, and Zambia, aimed at facilitating the cross-border traffic of goods and people, and benefits from support from international partners, including the World Bank, the European Union, and the United States, within the framework of investment, connectivity, and regional integration initiatives.
In addition to its economic impact, the Lobito Corridor is seen as a relevant geostrategic axis, positioning itself as an alternative to traditional export routes and as an instrument to strengthen regional integration and Southern Africa’s access to global markets.
