Zambia, DRC and Angola Align to Fast-Track Lobito Corridor Implementation
Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Angola have entered a decisive phase in advancing the Lobito Corridor, shifting from strategic planning and political alignment to coordinated implementation aimed at unlocking regional trade and industrial growth.
This transition is being underscored at the Inaugural Coordination Meeting on the Lobito Corridor, hosted by the Government of the Republic of Angola in partnership with the World Bank, running from 3 to 6 February 2026 in Luanda. The main plenary session is taking place on 5 February at the InterContinental Hotel.
The meeting is focusing on the Lobito Corridor as a 1,300-kilometre integrated railway and infrastructure system linking the mineral-rich regions of Zambia and the DRC to Angola’s Port of Lobito on the Atlantic Ocean. Increasingly recognised as a strategic enabler of critical raw-material supply chains, the corridor is also expected to drive regional industrialisation, improve access to global markets and strengthen trade and logistics networks across Southern and Central Africa.
Zambia’s delegation to the meeting is led by the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP, and the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Charles Milupi, MP. The delegation was received on arrival by Zambia’s Ambassador to Angola, Dr Elias Munshya.
It also includes the Head of the Presidential Delivery Unit, Ms Kusobile Kamwambi, and the Permanent Secretary at Cabinet Office, Ms Naomi Tetemashimba, reflecting Zambia’s whole-of-government approach to delivery, coordination and accountability.
The Inaugural Coordination Meeting seeks to formally launch a regional coordination architecture to accelerate corridor development, align national implementation timelines and ensure coherence across public and private investments.
It aims to strengthen collaboration among the governments of Angola, Zambia and the DRC, working alongside international partners such as the World Bank Group, the European Union and the United States, to improve planning, mobilise financing and agree on clear, sequenced next steps for implementation.
Discussions are also advancing on targeted infrastructure upgrades, including rail extensions and port enhancements, designed to reduce transport and logistics costs, improve cross-border connectivity and facilitate trade. These investments are expected to support growth in mining, agriculture, agro-industry, transport and logistics, while boosting exports, crowding in private investment and supporting sustainable growth and job creation, particularly for Zambia.
The meeting is expected to establish a robust framework for ongoing coordination, with the potential to mobilise significant public and private financing from development partners and private financiers. It also builds on earlier commitments, including the 2024 memorandum of understanding involving the United States, the European Union, the African Development Bank and corridor countries, reaffirming shared commitments to cooperation and delivery.
Participants are further discussing inclusive and equitable corridor-linked development, including the social and community impacts in connected regions. The meeting is also expected to serve as a platform for future engagements, including the planned Angola–EU Lobito Corridor Business Forum later this year.
For Zambia, the Lobito Corridor is a strategic national priority. It is expected to strengthen export diversification, reduce logistics costs and provide more efficient access to the Atlantic, enhancing the country’s competitiveness in mining, agriculture and emerging value-addition industries. By expanding trade options and reducing reliance on longer and more expensive routes, the corridor is also expected to enhance economic resilience and support macroeconomic stability over the medium to long term.
As the project moves into its construction phase, significant opportunities are anticipated for private sector participation in construction, engineering, rail and port services, logistics, energy supply and related industries. Beyond construction, a fully operational corridor is expected to generate sustained opportunities in freight handling, mineral processing, agri-logistics, industrial parks, trade finance and cross-border services.
The Government of the Republic of Zambia has encouraged the business community, financial institutions and development partners to position themselves early, align investment plans with corridor priorities and engage actively in building, operating and scaling the economic ecosystems that will underpin the Lobito Corridor as a long-term engine of growth, trade and regional integration.
