Africa-Press – Angola. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, recognized Monday, in Luanda, the importance of the Lobito Corridor for the development of African markets and beyond.
The European Union supports the Lobito Corridor through funding, cooperation and as part of its Global Gateway initiative.
European investment has focused on infrastructure, but also on specific projects such as agriculture, professional training and ecotourism.
These investments aim to reinforce the region’s economic integration and boost sustainable development.
EU financial support for the Lobito Corridor already exceeds 2 billion euros, combining financing from European institutions with loans.
According to Ursula von der Leyen, by supporting the Lobito Corridor project, the European Union began collaboration with Angolan families, with European companies offering training programs, helping local companies to adapt to European standards and expand their export capacity.
In this regard, he highlighted the fact that, during this week, they celebrated the first export shipment of Angolan avocados, leaving Lobito and heading to Europe.
According to the president of the European Commission, this initiative demonstrates that global commercial exchange can be a catalyst for local growth.
“By connecting Africa to global markets, we also promote trade within the African continent itself”, she highlighted.
We believe that this is the best way for African companies to align themselves and prepare for global competition”, she highlighted.
In her intervention, she noted that global capacity in certain strategic sectors has reached unprecedented levels, profoundly affecting our industries and societies on both continents.
Faced with this new reality, Ursula von der Leyen said that Africa and Europe are faced with common challenges.
She emphasized that in an increasingly challenging global economy, Africa and Europe need stronger collaboration than ever.
“That’s what brings us together today in Luanda. We can celebrate the progress made since the last meeting, but, above all, we must focus on new opportunities for collaboration”, she stressed.
As she said, as long-time partners, but also as defenders of dialogue, investment and business, “we aim for Africa and Europe to become partners of choice”.
She noted that, in a world of uncertainty and challenges, a closer relationship begins with mutual trust.
She recalled that Europe is already one of Africa’s main trading partners, representing a third of the continent’s total trade.
“Africa exports more than twice as much to Europe as it exports to China, for example. Much of our trade has been free and open for decades, thanks to our preferential trade agreements, but I see room to expand our trade relationship even further,” she said.
She made it known that, across the entire continent, the European bloc is building new infrastructure together to connect Africa to Europe, namely from ports to gas pipelines, among others.
For More News And Analysis About Angola Follow Africa-Press
