Trans African Rail Advances

On the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly, Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted a Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) Lobito Corridor Roundtable with key partners. 

This high-level discussion advanced PGII’s flagship Lobito Corridor, aiming to develop trans-continental connectivity from the Atlantic to Indian Oceans.

The Lobito Corridor is the first strategic economic corridor launched under the flagship G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), in May 2023.

In the margins of the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023, the EU and the US released a Joint Statement, teaming up to support the development of the Corridor. 

According to promoters, the Lobito Corridor "will unlock the enormous potential of the region, enhance export possibilities for Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia, and create added value and jobs through investments and soft measures."

This transportation infrastructure, connecting Angola and Zambia for the first time and on track to break ground in early 2026, will unlock Zambia’s Copper Belt and spur economic integration and inclusive growth across borders. 

Additionally, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced a $2 million grant for an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the rail project, which will ensure it is delivered according to the highest international standards.