DRC Seeks $1 Billion World Bank Funding to Boost Lobito Corridor and Regional Trade
The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is intensifying efforts to secure international financing for the development of the Lobito Corridor, a major infrastructure project aimed at improving regional connectivity and boosting trade.
Speaking in Washington during the World Bank’s “Transforming Transportation” global forum, the Congolese Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works, John Banza Lunda, called for an acceleration of the financing process for key infrastructure linked to the corridor.
The meeting took place on March 10, 2026, on the sidelines of the international forum dedicated to transport infrastructure and sustainable mobility.
Strategic Vision for Regional Integration
During the discussions, the Congolese minister presented the country’s strategic vision to transform the Lobito Corridor into a major driver of regional integration and economic development.
The project aims to strengthen transport connectivity between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia and Angola.
One of its primary objectives is to facilitate the export of mineral resources from southeastern Congo to the Atlantic coast through the Angolan port of Port of Lobito.
Congolese authorities view the corridor as a critical infrastructure link that will reduce transportation costs, improve trade logistics and stimulate economic activity across the region.
Talks with the World Bank
On the sidelines of the forum, Minister Banza Lunda held a working session with Binyam Reja, Director of the Transport Infrastructure Practice for East and Southern Africa at the World Bank Group.
At the center of the discussions was the finalization of financing estimated at $1 billion, which the Congolese government has requested to support infrastructure projects connected to the corridor.
According to officials present at the meeting, the World Bank signaled its readiness to move forward with the financing process once the Congolese government submits the final technical documentation required for project evaluation.
The necessary data is currently being finalized by the country’s Ministries of Infrastructure and Transport.
To accelerate the process, Minister Banza Lunda announced the creation of an ad hoc technical commission responsible for preparing a memorandum that will be submitted to the World Bank for validation.
High-Level Delegation in Washington
The Congolese delegation attending the forum included several senior officials from institutions involved in the infrastructure sector.
Among them were:
- Georges Koshi, Secretary General for Infrastructure
- Victor Tumba Tshikeka, Director General of the Roads and Drainage Authority
- Pierre Bundoki Ndongala, Director General of the National Road Maintenance Fund (FONER)
- Nico Nzau Nzau, Director General of the Congolese Agency for Major Works (ACGT)
Representatives of the Congolese Embassy in the United States also participated in the mission.
Minister Banza Lunda also highlighted coordination with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo to harmonize technical data needed to finalize the project’s financing file.
Priority Infrastructure Projects
During discussions with World Bank experts, including Peter Taniform, Congolese authorities stressed the importance of strengthening domestic infrastructure to fully capitalize on the economic potential of the corridor.
One of the key priorities identified is the rehabilitation of approximately 80 kilometers of railway between Kolwezi and Dilolo, a strategic section that connects the Congolese mining region to the railway line leading to Lobito in Angola.
Officials also discussed a broader national connectivity program that includes:
- Rehabilitation of 11 internal road corridors
- Improved links between transport infrastructure and agricultural development
- Strengthening infrastructure as a tool in the fight against poverty
Through these initiatives, the government hopes the Lobito Corridor will serve not only as a mining export route but also as a catalyst for economic diversification and regional development.
