Luanda, June 30, 2025 (Lusa) - European ambassadors accredited in Angola begin a three-day visit on Tuesday to Huambo and Bié, two Angolan provinces crossed by the Lobito Corridor, on a mission that reinforces the European Union’s (EU) interest in this infrastructure.

The initiative “is part of the European strategy to support inclusive and sustainable economic diversification, with a strong focus on job creation for young people, the promotion of private investment and the strengthening of local governance,” according to an EU statement.

The Lobito Corridor, a railway line that crosses Angola from the port of Lobito to the Democratic Republic of Congo, is a “project of reference for the Global Gateway strategy of the European Union,” which represents the EU’s commitment to reducing global investment deficits and promoting sustainable connections in the energy, transport and digital sectors.

During the visit, European diplomats will take part in a train journey between Huambo and Bié, symbolising the central axis of this strategic railway corridor for Angola, the European Union and the United States.

Along the way, the ambassadors will visit EU-supported projects in the areas of child protection and agricultural marketing, hold meetings with the governors and provincial governments of the two provinces, and hold consultation sessions with representatives of civil society, the private sector and universities.

The visit will also include projects financed by EU member states, including the Centre for Bioveterinary Medicine and Vaccine Production (a partnership between Germany and Portugal), the Kwanza International University (supported by Spain) and the Orange Corners entrepreneurship initiative promoted by the Netherlands.

“Our visit aims to consolidate the dialogue with the local authorities and other actors of development, promoting a collaborative approach aligned with national and local priorities”, said the EU delegation in Angola, highlighting the structuring role of the Lobito Corridor as an anchor project for its presence in the country.

The Lobito Corridor is one of the most visible commitments of Global Gateway, an initiative with which the EU aims to counterbalance the growing influence of other global powers through investments in sustainable infrastructure, targeting the energy, transport and digital sectors.

This railway route is seen as the most viable and secure alternative for the transport of mineral and agricultural resources from Southern Africa.

RCR/AYLS // AYLS

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