The Lobito Corridor Roundtable, held in New York in 2024, was a major event highlighting an ambitious transcontinental connectivity project. Indeed, the Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Affairs, Augustin Kibassa Maliba, took part in this meeting which brought together many key stakeholders involved in this major project.
The Lobito Corridor aims to connect the southern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the north-west of Zambia to regional and global trade markets via the Lobito Port in Angola. This project goes beyond simple transport infrastructure, it aims to modernize infrastructure, diversify the economy and promote sustainable development by linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean through roads, railways and optical fibers.
The participation of Minister Kibassa Maliba, accompanied by his counterpart in Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya, as well as many other distinguished guests, demonstrates the importance given to this project by the authorities involved. Collective commitment and enhanced cooperation between all stakeholders are key elements to ensure the success of this major initiative.
The round table allowed the various countries and partners involved to present the opportunities offered by the Lobito Corridor for the region. The discussions also highlighted the progress made since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for investment in infrastructure, including significant progress on the new Zambia-Lobito railway line.
The involvement of the United States and the European Union in the development of the Lobito Corridor underlines the strategic importance of this project to foster sustainable and inclusive growth in the region. Investments in infrastructure, measures to facilitate trade and transit, as well as investments in related sectors are all key elements to ensure the success of this transcontinental economic corridor.
In conclusion, the round table on the Lobito corridor helped to consolidate the commitment of the various stakeholders to this major project. By promoting connectivity and economic development in the region, this transcontinental corridor represents a real turning point for the populations concerned and for the development of Africa as a whole.