Lobito Corridor Project: DRC Pushes for Funding and Skills Development to Boost Regional Trade
The Lobito Corridor project, an initiative championed by former U.S. President Joe Biden, aims to construct a railway connecting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia, and Angola to the port of Lobito.
Beyond exporting strategic minerals to the United States, the project seeks to open up Central Africa and strengthen regional trade.
Although last September European Union and U.S. experts presented the results of feasibility studies in Kinshasa — particularly regarding the economic model — questions are mounting about the project’s future. Concerns center on its slow progress and perceived lack of momentum, especially following delays during the Trump administration.
On October 1, 2025, Congolese Minister of Foreign Trade Julien Paluku met with a delegation from the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM), led by Ms. Poorva Karkare, to discuss ways to accelerate the project.
Mobilising Funding and Moving Forward
Minister Paluku emphasised the urgency of mobilising funds for the Lobito Corridor, particularly through the Global Gateway programme — an EU-DRC initiative aiming to mobilise up to €300 billion between 2021 and 2027 to finance sustainable investments in the DRC.
According to the Minister, this strategy could enable the launch of the first phase of the Lobito Corridor, which involves detailed feasibility studies. This phase is expected to be financed by the United States at an estimated cost of $6 billion.
“The Lobito Corridor linking the DRC, Zambia, and Angola to the port of Lobito is a strategic infrastructure project designed to boost regional trade and attract investment.
We must accelerate funding mobilisation through Global Gateway to launch feasibility studies and make the corridor a fully integrated programme covering infrastructure, energy, transport, agro-industry, and skills development,” said Minister Paluku.
European Support and Advocacy
The ECDPM pledged to intensify advocacy with technical and financial partners, including the European Union, to ensure that the Global Gateway serves as a key funding channel for the project’s first stage.
“The European Centre for Development Policy Management is committed to supporting this strategic project, which could position the DRC as a gateway to international trade and a major regional investment hub,” stated the Ministry of Foreign Trade.
Prioritising Local Skills Development
Before this meeting, Minister Paluku had already advocated for the Lobito Corridor. On September 29, during a panel discussion in the United States at the 80th United Nations General Assembly, he called on project leaders to prioritise local skills development.
“The key component of the Lobito Corridor programme must be skills training. If we continually import labour from abroad, we will not have truly benefited our country,” he declared.
He stressed that the success of the Corridor hinges on the qualification of Congolese youth and workers.
As discussions progress, the Lobito Corridor remains a promising but complex initiative. Its success depends not only on financing and technical execution but also on meaningful engagement with local communities and investment in sustainable development.
