Lusaka:Amadeu Nunes, the Executive Secretary of the Lobito Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (LCTTFA), called for continued collaboration among Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Zambia to advance key initiatives within the Lobito Corridor framework.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Nunes made this appeal during the Second Lobito Corridor Coordination Meeting held from October 5 to 6. He highlighted the Joint Trade Facilitation Roadmap, the Locomotive Tracker, and the development of the Corridor Observatory as priority areas for collaboration.
The trilateral cooperation, as noted by Nunes, also involves capacity building and technical support. He stressed the importance of aligning these efforts with the LCTTFA's work program to achieve tangible and measurable outcomes.
Nunes emphasized that the Lobito Corridor should be seen as an economic development corridor rather than merely a transport or railway project. The goal is to integrate infrastructure, trade, investment, and productive sectors to support economic diversification, value addition, and industrialization in the region.
The ambition for the Lobito Corridor is supported by the commitment of the three Heads of State to use it as a tool for economic transformation and industrialization, aiming to positively impact local communities.
The LCTTFA, established in 2023, is tasked with coordinating transport, transit, and trade facilitation policies among the three countries. Its mission includes reducing operational and administrative barriers and transport costs to connect the Port of Lobito with markets in the DRC and Zambia.
The meeting in Lusaka, organized by the World Bank in partnership with the Government of Zambia, was opened by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. It brought together representatives from the DRC and the private sector to promote the Lobito Corridor as a significant emerging trade and investment corridor in Africa.
Angola's delegation, led by Transport Minister Ricardo D'Abreu, also includes the Secretary of State for Public Investment, Ivan dos Santos, and experts from the Angolan Cargo and Logistics Certification Regulatory Agency and the General Tax Administration.
