On 24th September 2024, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken hosted a roundtable discussion at the Palace Hotel in New York City to explore the progress and future potential of the Lobito Corridor. This corridor is a vital infrastructure project that connects Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, aiming to foster transcontinental connectivity and economic growth.
Secretary Blinken welcomed partners from governments, financial institutions, and regions worldwide to the roundtable, emphasising the importance of global collaboration for building quality, sustainable infrastructure. Since 2022, the United States and other G7 members have focused on financing infrastructure projects to support economic growth. These projects range from clean energy solutions to roads and fibre optic cables, all developed with transparency, labour, and environmental protection in mind.
Over the past two years, the U.S. has mobilised around $60 billion to support infrastructure projects globally, including in South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. One of the most ambitious projects is the Lobito Corridor, which aims to create infrastructure linking the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. Blinken highlighted that this project has already drawn the collaboration of three African countries, G7 partners, the Africa Finance Corporation, and the African Development Bank. Italy, which has made significant investments in Africa through its Mattei Plan, is also expected to join the initiative.
To date, the U.S. and its partners have committed over $4 billion to projects related to the Lobito Corridor. This effort includes expanding access to clean energy, the internet, and healthcare, as well as upgrading and building railways, roads, and bridges. The results are already evident: transportation times for shipments that used to take up to 45 days by truck are now significantly reduced by train. Multiple international shipments are running every week, including to the U.S., bringing goods like copper to fuel the clean energy transition. Soon, regional shipments will also include agricultural products to strengthen food supply chains.
Secretary Blinken recalled his visit to Angola earlier this year, where he witnessed the benefits of the corridor’s development firsthand. He spoke with CEOs who are investing in the region, including those developing solar grids to bring clean, affordable energy to over a million people.
During the roundtable, participants announced new developments, including agreements between Angola, Zambia, and the Africa Finance Corporation to advance the railway project connecting Zambia to the Port of Lobito. Additionally, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency is providing over $2 million in grants for environmental and social impact assessments, building upon recently completed feasibility studies.
The roundtable also welcomed Tanzania’s involvement in the Lobito Corridor discussions for the first time, marking an expansion of the project’s regional footprint. As Blinken noted, these conversations lay the groundwork for an upcoming convening of leaders in Angola, led by President Biden and President Lourenço.
“This is an incredibly positive endeavour, one that’s already showing results,” Secretary Blinken stated. He expressed optimism about the possibilities ahead and emphasised the ongoing challenge of realising this project’s full potential.
The roundtable on the Lobito Corridor demonstrates the U.S. and its partners’ commitment to supporting infrastructure that promotes regional connectivity, strengthens economies, and helps create a more integrated future for Africa.
