Addis ababa: Angolan President Joo Lourenço left Luanda on Wednesday for Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where he will witness the signing of a contract related to the development of the Lobito Corridor. According to Angola Press News Agency, the Head of State was seen off at the 4 de Fevereiro International Airport by the Vice-President of the Republic, Esperança da Costa. During his brief visit, President Lourenço is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with his DRC counterpart, Félix Tshisekedi, to discuss matters of mutual interest. The visit is part of ongoing efforts to enhance regional cooperation and promote the Lobito Corridor, a strategic project connecting Angola, the DRC, and Zambia. The contract signing follows a prior meeting in Lobito, Benguela Province, attended by the Presidents of Angola, the DRC, and Zambia, aiming to advance the corridor's development. President Lourenço's visit is expected to conclude in the early afternoon, after which he will return to Luand a. The Lobito Corridor, spanning 1,344 kilometres, connects the Atlantic coastal city of Lobito to the border town of Luau in Moxico Leste Province, traversing several provinces. It is a key project for economic diversification and regional integration, impacting sectors such as agriculture, trade, and goods transport. The corridor also offers the DRC and Zambia an alternative access to international markets, facilitating the export of mineral resources and other products through the Port of Lobito. Under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the corridor plays a significant role in fostering intra-African trade, local resource processing, and value creation in regional economies.
