EU Praises Lobito Corridor as Flagship Global Gateway Initiative During First Certified Avocado Export Ceremony
The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Angola, Rosario Bento Pais, has described the Lobito Corridor as one of the flagship initiatives of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy in Africa and a leading example of shared investment priorities.
Speaking at the Port of Lobito during a ceremony marking the export of the first shipment of certified Angolan avocados to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the ambassador emphasized the corridor’s central role in deepening regional and global connectivity under the Global Gateway initiative launched in 2021 to strengthen sustainable international partnerships.
Pais highlighted that the Lobito Corridor serves as a foundation for sustainable development and shared prosperity, noting that the partnership extends far beyond physical infrastructure such as railways and roads.
According to the ambassador, the European Union remains Africa’s largest trading partner, and the Lobito Corridor stands as a symbol of this long-standing cooperation built on mutual objectives and benefits.
She underscored the corridor’s transformative potential, especially with the development of the Port of Lobito into a modern logistics hub capable of facilitating regional and global trade.
“The Global Gateway’s 360-degree approach complements infrastructure investments with training and technical assistance,” she said.
Investment Across Three Countries
Pais noted that European investment in the Lobito Corridor spans Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.
To date, the EU and its member states have mobilized more than €2 billion for projects across the three countries.
In Angola, support is directed toward economic diversification beyond fossil fuels, workforce development particularly for women and youth biodiversity protection and strengthening governance structures.
The ambassador reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to expanding investments along the corridor. A dedicated session on the Lobito Corridor was held at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels last month, with Angolan President João Lourenço participating to discuss challenges and opportunities with African and European partners. New commitments were announced to support Angola’s agricultural development.
Pais cited the operationalization of the Caála Logistics Platform as a concrete example of “Team Europe”—a coordinated effort between the EU and its member states, in this case including the Netherlands.
She also noted that among the agreements signed at the Global Gateway Forum was a project focused on training for the mining sector in Zambia.
Regarding the avocado export milestone, Pais said it exemplifies the teamwork behind the Global Gateway strategy, showcasing effective collaboration between the EU and its member states toward shared development goals.
“I am very pleased to be here with my colleagues from the Netherlands so that together we can launch this project on avocado exports and the Caála Platform,” she said.
Global Gateway, launched in 2021, aims to finance infrastructure in partner countries through a mix of grants, guarantees, loans and private capital, with priorities including energy, transport, digitalization, health and education.
Over its first four years, it has mobilized €306 billion, with the EU seeking to reach €400 billion by 2027.
