SADC Secretariat to Convene 2nd Meeting of Lobito Corridor Committee of Ministers
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat is set to hold the 2nd meeting of the Lobito Corridor Committee of Ministers, bringing together representatives from Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Zambia.
The meeting, scheduled for January 22, 2025, will focus on reviewing progress and establishing a Corridor Management Institute to enhance coordination and oversight of the Lobito Corridor.
The Ministers will evaluate the work of the Technical Working Group assigned during the inaugural meeting held on December 16, 2023, in Lobito, Angola. This group was tasked with setting up and operationalizing the Lobito Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (LCTTFA) Interim Secretariat, which will be responsible for the daily coordination of development activities along the corridor.
The Lobito Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency Agreement, signed on January 27, 2023, in Lobito, provides a governance framework for Angola, DRC, and Zambia to collaborate on harmonizing corridor laws, policies, regulations, and infrastructure development.
The agreement aligns with key SADC frameworks, including the SADC Treaty, Protocols, and development strategies such as the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030, the Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP) 2013-2027, and the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (SISR) 2015-2063.
The operationalization of the Interim Secretariat aims to fast-track priority infrastructure projects, including the Zambia-Lobito Railway Greenfield Project, connecting Zambia Railways from Chingola to the Benguela railway at Luacano, Angola.
Other key projects include the rehabilitation of the Dilolo-Kolwezi Railway, agricultural value chain development, and mining value chain enhancements to support mineral beneficiation and electric vehicle manufacturing.
These initiatives are expected to boost SME participation, enhance productivity, reduce unemployment, and contribute to economic development across the three member states.
The Ministerial meeting will be preceded by a Technical Experts Meeting on January 20, 2025, and an Executive Committee Meeting on January 21, 2025, featuring senior government officials. International Cooperating Partners (ICPs), including the European Union, United States of America, African Development Bank (AfDB), and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), will also participate, emphasizing the significance of the Lobito Corridor in regional economic integration and development.
For further updates, stakeholders are encouraged to follow developments closely as the SADC Secretariat works to advance regional connectivity and economic growth through the Lobito Corridor.
