Africa-Press – Angola. President João Lourenço advocated on Thursday (05) the need to strengthen institutional coordination, harmonize policies and accelerate the facilitation of transit within the Lobito Corridor.
Speaking at the opening of the Inaugural Coordination Meeting of the Lobito Corridor, organized by the Angolan Govt and the World Bank, he stressed the importance of aligning strategies on governance, investments and facilitation mechanisms, with emphasis on the institutionalization of the Lobito Corridor Facilitation Agency, an instrument considered essential to ensure greater efficiency and predictability in the management of the corridor.
He mentioned that the high-level meeting on the coordination mechanism constitutes a consolidation step, raising the articulation between the countries to a more operational level, with regulatory and procedural harmonization, clear definition of goals, responsibilities and establishment of a regular monitoring system.
President João Lourenço highlighted that the Lobito Corridor is establishing itself as a strategic axis linking Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Zambia, with high potential to boost trade, stimulate production, strengthen logistics and drive the economic transition, with direct benefits for the economies and populations of the three States.
He emphasized that the involvement of the Government of the United States of America, multilateral and bilateral partners, especially the World Bank, reinforces the credibility of the project and demonstrates the political and institutional alignment around its implementation.
The presence of high-ranking members of the governments of the three countries that make up the corridor, he added, demonstrates the convergence of wills and the common commitment to consolidating a structuring project for regional integration and sustainable development.
The meeting’s main goal is to align strategic priorities and strengthen coordination between the three African countries and their technical and financial partners.
The agenda will focus on accelerating the implementation of structuring projects in vital areas such as rail transport and integrated logistics.
It also includes trade facilitation and infrastructure modernization, sustainable energy, development of agricultural and mineral value chains, as well as the promotion of economic and social development along the railways.
Recognized as one of the most promising logistical and economic platforms in Southern and Central Africa, the Lobito Corridor is playing an increasingly crucial role in connecting the continent economically.
It is hoped that this meeting will inaugurate a new era of more structured and regular joint work, aimed at transforming the Lobito Corridor into a true engine of regional integration, attracting private investment and creating economic and employment opportunities for the region.
The Lobito Corridor is a strategic multimodal infrastructure that extends from the Port of Lobito in Angola, across the country and connecting to the transport networks of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.
Its development is seen as fundamental to unlocking the economic potential of the interior of Central and Southern Africa, facilitating access to international markets and promoting intra-regional trade.
