Zambia, Angola and DRC Agree on Joint Actions to Fast-Track Lobito Corridor
Zambia, Angola and DRC Move to Accelerate Lobito Corridor as Regional Trade and Jobs Engine
Zambia, Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have agreed on a set of coordinated actions to expedite the development of the Lobito Corridor, a strategic transport and economic route designed to reduce trade costs, boost regional commerce and create jobs across southern and central Africa.
The agreement was reached at a high-level coordination meeting hosted by the Angolan government in partnership with the World Bank.
The meeting brought together ministers responsible for finance, transport, trade and infrastructure from the three countries, alongside major development and financing partners, including multilateral institutions and bilateral partners from Europe, Asia and the United States.
Opening the meeting, Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço stressed that the Lobito Corridor should be treated as a full development corridor rather than a stand-alone railway or logistics project.
He called on participating countries to move decisively from coordination to delivery, with a focus on reducing transport delays, cutting trade costs and fully operationalising rail links across Angola, the DRC and Zambia, while providing an efficient Atlantic gateway for regional growth.
More than 30 million people live across the three corridor countries. Ministers agreed that the initiative must go beyond cargo movement to connect production centres to markets, translating improved connectivity into income generation, enterprise development and sustainable employment.
At the close of the meeting, the three governments endorsed several priority actions. These include the preparation of a Lobito Corridor Development Master Plan to serve as a shared implementation framework with clear milestones and accountability.
They also agreed on a common definition of an economic corridor to ensure harmonised standards, aligned priorities and consistent implementation across borders and sectors.
The countries further agreed to establish a joint investment platform to mobilise public and private capital at scale. This platform will link transport and logistics infrastructure with industrial zones, production hubs and processing facilities, while attracting investment in agribusiness, energy, urban development and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Commitments were also made to advance trade facilitation and border reforms aimed at streamlining procedures, reducing bottlenecks and improving the movement of goods and people along the corridor.
To support delivery, partners agreed to expand technical assistance and capacity building, strengthen coordination mechanisms and reinforce support to the Lobito Transport Trade Facilitation Agency.
The DRC was selected to host the next coordination meeting as the process shifts from alignment to execution.
Zambia’s Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane, described the Lobito Corridor as a strategic national priority.
He said the project would help diversify exports, lower logistics costs and provide more efficient access to Atlantic markets, strengthening competitiveness in mining, agriculture and valu added industries.
He added that the transition from planning to implementation creates immediate opportunities for Zambian firms, alongside international partners, in construction, engineering, logistics, freight services and energy supply.
Over the long term, the corridor is expected to support sustained private sector activity in freight handling, mineral processing, agri-logistics and industrial parks, driving continuous job creation.
Zambian officials said the outcomes of the Luanda meeting mark a turning point toward practical delivery, reinforcing confidence that the Lobito Corridor will attract investment, expand trade, reduce costs and deliver inclusive, broad-based growth across the region.
