Brussels, Oct. 9, 2025 (Lusa) - Angolan President João Lourenço highlighted on Thursday at the second Global Gateway Forum in Brussels that the Lobito Corridor has "development potential" for Southern Africa.
Referring in his speech at the second edition of the Global Gateway Forum to the "major Lobito Corridor project", João Lourenço highlighted "the potential for economic and social development that it can generate not only in Angola but also in the Southern African region, by facilitating the transport of goods and people at competitive prices, connecting and shortening distances between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans through the connection with the Tazara Corridor and the rest of the world".
The strategic logistics and economic project connects the port of Lobito, on the Atlantic Ocean, to the mining regions of southern Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, via the Benguela Railway (Angola).
The Lobito Corridor, according to the Angolan head of state, has "fundamental geopolitical and economic importance, as it is a logistics platform that will shorten international maritime routes, promote international trade and commercial exchanges between Asia, Africa, Europe and America, as well as boost intra-African trade, strengthen the African Continental Free Trade Area and make a significant contribution to integrating Africa into global value chains".
The Angolan president met at the forum with the leader of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who announced on social media that the project is "one of the most ambitious" of the Global Gateway and "a path to growth and employment".
Von der Leyen also said she was "proud to be Angola's partner on this journey" and noted that the strategy will be discussed at the next summit between the European Union (EU) and the African Union, scheduled for 24 and 25 November in Luanda, the Angolan capital.
On Wednesday, the European Commission and the World Bank announced a strategic partnership to finance sustainable connectivity projects, including the Lobito Corridor in Angola, for which Brussels has already mobilised €500 million in grants.
According to the institution, "18 high-impact investments in three strategic sectors - energy, transport and digital infrastructure - in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean" were selected, including the Lobito Corridor, according to the list accessed by the Lusa agency.
This is one of the main economic and logistical integration initiatives in Africa, connecting the port of Lobito in Angola to the mining regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia via a strategic railway line.
The Global Gateway is the EU's strategy to boost smart, clean and secure connections in the digital, energy and transport sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems around the world, mobilising more than €306 billion in investments between 2021 and 2024.
The second edition of the Global Gateway Forum, taking place today and Friday, brings together high-level representatives from governments, financial institutions, the private sector and civil society to explore innovative strategies to increase investment.
In addition to the Angolan president, the prime minister of Cabo Verde, José Ulisses Correia e Silva, is also participating in the event.
Building on the 2023 meeting, which highlighted the European Union's external investment initiatives, this year's event will focus on advancing global connectivity in the face of geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges.
IG/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
