Lobito Corridor meeting opens in Lusaka to boost regional trade

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has officially opened the Second Lobito Corridor Coordination Meeting in Lusaka, calling for enhanced collaboration between Zambia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The two-day summit aims to accelerate the implementation of the Lobito Corridor Project, a regional trade and investment initiative designed to improve connectivity and lower transport costs.

President Hichilema emphasized that the corridor is a foundational component for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting that Africa currently experiences low levels of intra-continental trade. He stressed the importance of moving from policy discussions to operational execution, urging the private sector and development partners to translate commitments into tangible economic projects and jobs.

The meeting includes senior government officials, policy experts, and private-sector stakeholders, alongside representatives from the World Bank Group. The initiative seeks to leverage regional geographic proximity to drive cross-border industrial growth, particularly as global demand for African critical minerals increases.