Lobito, Angola – On the concluding day of his visit to Angola, President Joe Biden announced a significant U.S.-backed investment to modernize the Lobito Corridor railway. The ambitious project, spanning 800 miles (1,300 kilometers), aims to connect Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Angola, fostering economic growth and regional integration.
The Lobito Corridor railway, a critical infrastructure linking resource-rich areas to global markets, will receive substantial funding from the U.S. and its allies. Biden highlighted the project's potential to transform the region by improving trade efficiency, creating jobs, and fostering sustainable development.
"By investing in infrastructure like the Lobito Corridor, we're laying the groundwork for a brighter future, not just for Zambia, Congo, and Angola, but for the entire region," Biden stated during a visit to the railway hub in Lobito.
The refurbishment will prioritize modernizing tracks, upgrading cargo facilities, and ensuring environmental sustainability. Officials emphasized the railway's strategic importance, particularly for transporting minerals critical to global supply chains.
This initiative aligns with Biden's broader push to counter China's growing influence in Africa by offering alternative development partnerships through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII).
The project has been met with optimism from local governments, who see it as an opportunity to enhance regional connectivity and economic resilience. Work on the Lobito Corridor railway is expected to begin in 2024, with completion anticipated by the end of the decade.
