Benguela, Angola, Dec. 4, 2024 (Lusa) - The Angolan president, João Lourenço, on Wednesday called for the involvement of all the countries and financiers of the Lobito Corridor in the development of initiatives to fulfil this project, which he considered to be of strategic importance.
João Lourenço was speaking at the industrial complex of the Carrinho Group, Angola's largest agri-food company, at a summit on the Lobito Corridor attended by his US counterparts, Joe Biden, on his last day in the country, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, from Zambia, Haikande Hichilema and the vice-president of Tanzania, Philip Mpango.
The theme was the strategic importance of this infrastructure designed to link the Angolan coast (Atlantic Ocean) to the Indian Ocean by rail, facilitating the transport of critical minerals and agricultural products, among other goods.
João Lourenço argues that the political commitment of all those involved in the project is "an undeniable fact", and it is also important that the African countries directly involved, the financiers and the business consortium that has the concession, "promote the actions that are needed to realise this important project", with positive impacts on international maritime and rail transport, international trade, energy transition and security and food security.
The Angolan president reinforced Angola's commitment, "in a situation of peace and stability," to its obligations, stressing that the aim is to optimise this important infrastructure as an integral part of an international and transcontinental route, which "safely connects the American, European, African and Asian continents with gains in transport times and maritime and rail freight costs".
João Lourenço also highlighted the Corridor's contribution to boosting intra-African trade, in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area and world trade.
It will be "a driving factor for economic development that will provide for the growing participation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in business value chains, especially in agriculture, industry and mining," he said.
The Lobito Corridor is the main focus of US President Joe Biden's state visit to Angola, which ends today.
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