Lobito Corridor Positioned as Strategic Infrastructure Project to Boost African Trade and Industrialization
Angolan President and African Union Chairperson João Lourenço has described the Lobito Corridor as a “game-changer” for Africa’s trade and economic growth, calling it a model for turning the continent’s ambitious infrastructure plans into reality.
Speaking at the Financing Summit on Logistics in Luanda, themed “Capital, Corridors, Trade: Investing in Infrastructure for the AfCFTA and Shared Prosperity”, Lourenço highlighted how political will and regional cooperation can mobilize capital for large-scale infrastructure projects.
Africa faces an annual infrastructure financing gap of $68–108 billion, a challenge the summit addressed by bringing together African leaders, global investors, and development finance institutions.
Stretching from Angola’s Atlantic port of Lobito through Zambia to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Lobito Corridor is designed to enhance regional trade, facilitate mineral exports, and reduce transportation costs.
Lourenço noted that such corridors accelerate industrialization, job creation, and economic integration across the continent.
He emphasized the importance of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), stating:
“The Lobito Corridor is proof that with determination and partnership, Africa can build transformative infrastructure that connects economies and communities.”
Other summit speakers echoed the call for African-driven financing. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, urged a shift from a “logic of assistance” to a “logic of alliance,” highlighting the need for collaboration and self-reliance.
Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), noted Africa’s untapped financial potential through pension funds, insurance firms, and sovereign wealth funds, which hold trillions abroad.
She called for redirecting these resources toward infrastructure, energy, and connectivity projects to promote sustainable development.
Lerato Dorothy Mataboge, AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, emphasized local content and industrialisation, stating:
“Our goal must be to build African solutions for African challenges.”
Samaila Zubairu, CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation, added that processing raw materials locally will help Africa move up the global value chain, boosting employment and competitiveness.
The Luanda Summit concluded with a clear consensus: projects like the Lobito Corridor are critical to advancing Africa’s trade, integration, and prosperity.
Delegates agreed that with strong leadership, coordinated policy, and domestic investment, Africa’s long-standing infrastructure ambitions can drive inclusive economic growth.
