Luanda: African experts in regional integration and economic development have identified the Lobito Corridor as a strategic mechanism for enhancing logistical sovereignty in the region, thereby boosting connectivity, trade, and industrialization on the continent. This was discussed on Wednesday during the third Summit on Infrastructure Financing in Africa.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Demita Gyang, Director of Customs Administration of the African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA Secretariat, emphasized that the Lobito Corridor will strengthen connections between member states and aid in fulfilling Agenda 2063. Gyang explained that this initiative is embedded within the agenda and aims to increase intra-African trade under the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area’s implementation.
Joy Kategekwa, Director of the Regional Integration Coordination Office of the African Development Bank (AfDB), noted that the corridor is a new framework designed to facilitate the export of “made in Africa” products. It also serves as a catalyst for investments in human capital, prioritizing youth and women in development efforts. Kategekwa highlighted the project’s role in renewing and advancing the continent towards industrialization, while also stressing the importance of simplifying the trade regime in the region to enhance trade among countries along the corridor.
Victor Djemba, Head of the UN Regional Division for Africa for Industrial Development, remarked that initiatives like the Lobito Corridor require clear mechanisms for investment repayment and revenue collection. He advocated for the implementation of aligned industrial policies as essential to achieving the corridor’s strategic objectives.
The session further underscored the potential for infrastructure investments connected to trade, industry, and agriculture in the three countries involved, which could attract private capital and promote sustainable economic growth. Experts also discussed the critical role of physical infrastructure, highlighting logistics centers, the Port of Lobito, and the rehabilitation of the railway line connecting Angola to the DRC and Zambia as essential components for the corridor’s success.
