HH to grace Lobito Corridor indaba

The meeting is also expected to help develop the Corridor into a functioning economic ecosystem connecting infrastructure with production, investment, markets and regional value chains.

The Ministry has disclosed that the Second Lobito Corridor Coordination Meeting is timely as it comes amid Zambia’s economic transition, having made substantial progress in restoring macroeconomic stability and restructuring external debt.

It said the meeting would provide Zambia with an opportunity to connect macroeconomic reform with the infrastructure, trade facilitation, private capital, and regional integration required to unlock Zambia’s productive potential.

The ministry said Zambia was increasingly focused on converting its economic gains into higher investment, expanded production, stronger exports, productive jobs and increased household incomes, while safeguarding fiscal and debt sustainability.

The statement emphasised that for Zambia, the Lobito Corridor was more than a transport route and represent an economic development and investment platform capable of connecting productive sectors to regional and global markets, reducing trade and logistics constraints, and mobilising capital into mining, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, logistics, and other value chains.

Over the two days, discussions would progress from broad commitments towards specific and measurable delivery priorities, as the agenda would also cover discussions on infrastructure investment, private-sector mobilization, a joint trade facilitation roadmap, development masterplans, an update on the operations of the Lobito Atlantic Railway, and the institutional work program of the Lobito Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency.

Delegates would also review priority road and rail investments, feeder networks and cross-border infrastructure requirements, while identifying financing gaps, technical-assistance needs and reforms necessary to improve the investment environment.

Importantly, the meeting is designed to examine priority actions for the next six to 24 months, implementation milestones and areas requiring bilateral, trilateral, or development-partner follow-up.

The Ministry stated that for Zambia, infrastructure alone would however not deliver the full economic benefits of the Corridor, but that investment in rail, roads, and logistics must be matched by efficient border systems, predictable customs procedures, stronger institutions, competitive financing, and policies that enable businesses to invest, produce, and trade across borders.

“Our aspiration is ultimately to ensure that regional cooperation and infrastructure translate into increased investment, production and trade, stronger businesses, productive employment and higher incomes for people across the participating countries.”