Luanda - The Minister of Transport, Ricardo de Abreu, on Sunday defended the need to make greater use of the country's potential for the success of the national economic diversification process.
Speaking at a meeting with the heads of Angolan diplomatic and consular missions, Ricardo de Abreu pointed out that it was with this in mind that work had begun on the realization of the Lobito Corridor project, whose transnational nature brings together important assets and has a major impact on the regional economy.
The Minister said that the process of making the Lobito Corridor Freight Facilitation Agency operational was underway.
According to the minister, the master plan has been outlined with the support of the World Bank and the creation of the Lobito Corridor Development Company, which would include public and private organizations, including the financial sector.
Foreign Minister Téte António on his turn, stressed that this year will be unique, with a diplomatic agenda that will require the full commitment of Angolan diplomats.
Téte António added that at a time when the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of national independence are already underway, the diplomatic and consular missions will have to carry out a broad mobilization of the resident Angolan community.
During his speech, he also highlighted, among the milestones in the field of economic diplomacy, the materialization of the Lobito Corridor concession process, a factor that prompted the historic visit of the President of the United States of America (USA), Joe Biden, an indelible milestone in Angolan diplomacy.
Lobito Corridor
The Lobito Corridor railway links the southern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and north-western Zambia to regional and world markets via the port of Lobito in Angola.
It has a railway line of 1,344 km from Lobito (Benguela) to Luau (Moxico).
The management of the Lobito corridor has been entrusted to the Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium (made up of Trafigura, Vecturis and Mota-Engil), which won the international tender for the project in 2022.
Over 30 years, the consortium plans to increase the daily frequency to 50 trains and guarantee 1,600 direct jobs.
It will be responsible for the transport of heavy goods, such as ores from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, as well as the maintenance of the infrastructure (workshops, railway line).
The Lobito corridor includes the port of Lobito, the mining terminal, Catumbela airport and the Benguela railway.
Because of its strategic role in regional economic development, more than two billion dollars have been invested in the rehabilitation and modernization of the infrastructure and means of transport of the Lobito Corridor, in order to promote the transport of various goods for the benefit of the three border countries.
Due to its location, the Lobito Corridor is a strategic alternative route to the export markets of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, offering the shortest route between the main mining regions of the two landlocked countries.
In Angola, the corridor connects 40 per cent of the country's population and will stimulate major investments in agriculture and commerce in the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bié and Moxico, regions crossed by the Benguela Railway (CFB).
It will also create opportunities for the development of small-scale rail-related businesses and provide a competitive rail alternative to road transport. SC/MRA/AMP
