United States Strengthens Investment in Lobito Corridor
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Joe Robinette BIDEN Jr , 46th current President of he United States of America (left) with 7th Zambian President, Hakainde Sammy Hichilema, 7th First Lady Mutinta Hichilema and First Lady Jill Tracy Jacobs Biden
By Derrick Sinjela
United States (U.S.) Acting Special Coordinator for the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, Helaina Matza, traveled to Zambia October 19 and 20 to advance U.S., Zambian, and EU efforts to develop the Lobito Economic Corridor and the Zambia-Lobito greenfield railway, which connects the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia with global markets through Angola.
The Lobito Corridor has the potential to generate significant economic benefits for Zambians by upgrading critical infrastructure, expanding export possibilities, boosting the regional circulation of goods, and promoting job creation and regional travel.
The primary objective of Special Coordinator Matza’s visit to Zambia was to prepare for launching the feasibility study for the Zambia-Lobito railway, and to explore developing projects across multiple sectors in Zambia.
During her visit to Zambia, Acting Special Coordinator Matza and U.S. Ambassador to Zambia Michael Gonzales met with President Hakainde Hichilema, Minister of Finance Situmbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Energy Peter Chibwe Kapala, and other senior government officials to discuss how the United States and Zambia can best partner together to develop the Corridor. The delegation held multiple discussions with logistics, mining, agricultural, and energy companies to discuss how technical and financial resources can be leveraged to benefit the project and how the corridor can spur investment and job creation in these sectors.
They also met with the European Union Ambassador to Zambia to strengthen U.S.-EU collaboration on the project.
Acting Special Coordinator Matza’s trip follows a joint statement last month from the United States and the European Union on support for the development of the Lobito Corridor.
Prior to that, at the G7 Summit in Japan in May 2023, President Biden announced a U.S. government investment of an initial $250 million (5 billion kwacha) to develop the Corridor.
President Hakainde Hichilema meets U.S. Acting Special Coordinator for the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment Helaina Matza (left) and U.S Ambassador to Zambia Michael Gonzales (Right) State House in Lusaka on Thursday. October 19. Picture credit: State House.
President Hakainde Hichilema meets U.S. Acting Special Coordinator for the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment Helaina Matza (left) at State House in Lusaka on Thursday. October 19. Picture credit: State House.
President Hakainde Hichilema meets U.S. Acting Special Coordinator for the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment Helaina Matza (left) and U.S Ambassador to Zambia Michael Gonzales (Right) at State House in Lusaka on Thursday. October 19. Picture credit: State House.
Contact:
EMBASSY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA
NR/1336/10/23/2023
CONTACT: Phil Dimon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Public Affairs Officer
October 23, 2023
Email: DimonPM@state.gov
