"We have a 360-degree vision, with investments in social, economic, and environmental concerns" regarding this project, which aims to connect the port of Lobito to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) through the remodeling and expansion of a 1300-kilometer railway line.
In her opening remarks at the EurAfrican Forum session on 'Global Markets; Platforms for Business Growth through International Forums,' Rosário Bento Pais said that the EU's intervention, under the Global Gateway, is not limited to supporting the construction and improvement of the current railway, but also addresses other concerns surrounding this central project.
The creation of logistics platforms, improving water quality in 11 Angolan cities, and strengthening the perspective of inclusion throughout the project are some of the Brussels projects presented during one of the forum's panels, which concludes on Saturday.
"We have 15 million euros for agricultural supply chains, with specific financing windows that should allow for doubling the investment; we have 30 million euros for a fisheries project; 43 million euros for specific training and development in the area of railway courses, in addition to professional development at 12 agricultural institutes; we have 25 million euros allocated to a project to digitize governance and justice against fraud, money laundering, and money laundering; and 25 million euros to protect conservation areas and promote ecotourism," explained the head of European diplomacy in Luanda.
Among the various project examples presented, Rosário Bento Pais also highlighted the 25 million euros investment in a project to promote the transformation of waste management in Luanda, focusing on a circular economy perspective, that is, strongly promoting recycling.
"Together, with the private sector, we can transform the country," concluded the ambassador, emphasizing the importance of the Global Gateway Forum, taking place on October 9th and 10th in Brussels, in mobilizing investment from the European private sector.
The Lobito Corridor, a 1300-kilometer railway infrastructure that crosses Angola, connecting the Port of Lobito (coastal) to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo to transport critical mineral production from the Copperbelt (DR Congo) and Kolwezi (Zambia) regions, is one of the most visible commitments of the Global Gateway, an initiative with which the EU aims to counterbalance the growing influence of other global powers through investments in sustainable infrastructure, targeting the energy, transport, and digital sectors.
The operation is being managed by Lobito Atlantic Railway (a consortium comprising the Portuguese company Mota-Egil, the Swiss company Trafigura, and the Belgian company Vecturis), and is expected to involve an investment of nearly 1 billion dollars, partially financed by the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
The Corridor is also part of the European Global Gateway initiative, with the European bloc announcing a 600 million euros package through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), developed within the framework of the G7.
