Economists and business leaders in Lunda-Norte believe that the construction of a road connecting Angola and Zambia, part of the Lobito Corridor initiative, will significantly enhance the flow of goods and services between Angola’s eastern provinces and the country’s coast.
The project involves constructing an approximately 800-kilometer road from Lobito (Benguela) to Luau (Moxico) on the Angolan side.
companies, including a consortium like SIbitech and Queiroz Galvão, as well as AFAVIAS, are involved in the construction.
José Cangolo, an economist and professor at the Faculty of Economics of Dundo (Lueji A’Nkonde University), estimates that the project will take three years to complete due to its extensive length.
Cangolo highlighted the Lobito Corridor’s significant economic impact on the provinces of Moxico, Lunda-Norte, and Lunda-Sul.
He emphasized its importance within the government’s vision to boost the local economy. The corridor starts in Benguela, passes through the Central Plateau provinces (Huambo and Bié), and extends to the eastern provinces, which currently face difficulties in the flow of goods.
Cangolo noted that investment in the railway, road, and logistics infrastructure of the Lobito Corridor would strengthen the national business community, alleviate transportation challenges, and support local production and consumption.
The road project is expected to create significant employment opportunities in Benguela, Huambo, Bié, Moxico, Lunda-Norte, and Lunda-Sul, positively impacting family incomes.
Cangolo believes that these provinces have the potential to become major centers for transforming cornmeal into bombó, similar to the cereal production strengths of central and southern regions.
However, Cangolo expressed concern over the lack of evident grain production in Eastern Angola, despite the region’s potential and the government’s prioritization of agricultural development.
He noted that Lunda-Norte has 500,000 hectares allocated for the PLANAGRÃO initiative, but a lack of financial incentives and business culture has hindered progress.
Elias Pedro, a businessman from the Leading Caunguala Investment Organization (LCI), highlighted the benefits of the Lobito Corridor in establishing logistics chains, which are currently lacking in the eastern provinces.
His company processes cassava into bombó cornmeal in Lunda-Norte, facing challenges in transporting products to other locations.
Pedro stressed the importance of logistics infrastructure for streamlining production, transportation, and commercialization, contributing to food security and economic growth.
The Lobito Corridor, he noted, would enhance trade with neighboring Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), facilitating the export of minerals and other goods.
The Lobito Corridor road project is poised to significantly boost the economy of Eastern Angola, improving trade, employment, and local production while strengthening connections with neighboring countries.
