Historic Tripartite Meeting Marks Milestone for Lobito Corridor Development
The inaugural Tripartite Meeting of the Lobito Corridor Committee of Ministers concluded on a historic note, solidifying regional collaboration and economic growth prospects.
Held from November 14th to 16th, 2023, at the Main Hall of the Lobito Municipal Administration in Benguela province, Angola, the meeting was facilitated by the SADC Secretariat with the support of the Africa Development Bank.
At the heart of the discussions were crucial decisions to propel the development of the Lobito Corridor, with ministers approving the establishment of subcommittees and an interim secretariat to be based in Lobito.
Among the key outcomes were plans for the development of dry port frameworks for Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as initiatives focusing on value chains and economic clusters in the mining and agriculture sectors along the corridor.
Ms. Mapolao Mokoena, Director of Infrastructure for the Southern African Development Community (SADC), lauded the meeting as a historic milestone during her closing remarks.
She extended gratitude to the Angolan government for graciously hosting the agency for its first two years and emphasized SADC’s commitment to supporting member states by providing technical assistance and coordinating with international partners to mobilize resources.
In a statement from the Honourable Frank Museba Tayali, Minister of Transport for the Republic of Zambia, the government reaffirmed its dedication to the Lobito Corridor’s development.
He outlined major infrastructure projects and initiatives aimed at connecting Zambia to Angola and the DRC through railway and road networks, addressing non-rigorous matters in the process.
Mr. Roger TeBiasu, Coordinator of the Support and Monitoring Unit for Regional Programmes and Transport Corridor Activities (CEPCOR) at the Ministry of Transport and Communications for the DRC, expressed gratitude to international cooperating partners for their support in Lobito Corridor development.
He highlighted the high value placed on the corridor by the mining industry and the private sector, eagerly anticipating the launch of the Lobito Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency.
Announcing the success of the inaugural meeting, the Honourable Ricardo Viegas D’Abreu, the Angolan Minister of Transport, praised the participants for their hard work.
Stressing the importance of a fully operational Lobito Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency for the continent’s economic growth, he outlined the potential for trade facilitation, increased investments, and initiatives that could boost the continent’s GDP by nearly $177 billion, equivalent to 25% of the Southern African Member States’ GDP.
The initiative is expected to have a far-reaching impact on the people along the corridor and resonate across all SADC countries.
Source: SADC Secretariat
