Lobito Corridor Maps Good Governance

On 27 January 2023, Angola, DR Congo and Zambia are scheduled to sign the Lobito Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (#LCTTFA) Agreement at Lobito Port in Angola. The countries will be represented by their respective Transport ministers. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will act as coordinator and provide support for the project.

The #LobitoCorridor is named after its starting point of Port Lobito in Angola which opens onto the Atlantic Ocean. The Corridor then traverses Angola from West to East through the Provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bie and Moxico. Then, it passes through the Katanga Province of DR Congo before reaching the Copperbelt region in Zambia. Finally, the Corridor cut across Tanzania to connect to Dar es Salaam Port on the Indian Ocean.

Needless to say, the Lobito Corridor will play vital role in the transportation of minerals as it offers pathways linking key mining regions of Katanga and the Copperbelt to the sea.

In addition to mineral beneficiation, the Lobito Corridor will generally contribute to #TradeFacilitation and will boost socio-economic development of countries along the Corridor. It will also impart a new momentum to intra-African trade in line with the objectives of the #AfCFTA. A special attention will be given to #SME and Women Entrepreneurs so that they can reap the economic benefits from the infrastructural development.

The #LCTTFA is a governance instrument for #SADC member states to jointly develop harmonized policies, laws, regulations, systems and processes in a coherent and coordinated manner. The Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020-2030 will be updated in step with the development of the Lobito Corridor.