Zambia, EU to host Lobito corridor business forum to unlock investment opportunities

The government of Zambia, in partnership with the European Union (EU) Delegation to Zambia and COMESA, will this month host the EU–Zambia Lobito Corridor Business Forum aimed at unlocking investment and partnership opportunities along the Lobito Corridor.

The forum, scheduled for Ciela Resort in Lusaka, will bring together business leaders, investors, and policymakers from Zambia and Europe to promote trade and investment cooperation.

According to organisers in a statement, the event aligns with the EU’s priorities in Zambia, including promoting economic diversification, strengthening trade and infrastructure, and advancing sustainable development through investments in transport, agriculture, and resource value chains.

The EU is supporting the development of the Lobito Economic Corridor as a flagship project under its Global Gateway strategy, which seeks to enhance connectivity and boost economic growth across partner countries.

EU Ambassador to Zambia, Karolina Stasiak, said the forum would provide a platform to channel grants, loans, and private investment toward viable projects.

“This forum will identify concrete investment and partnership opportunities along the corridor by bringing together grants, loans, and private investment. Our goal is to create lasting impact on the ground through new jobs and market engagement,” she said.

The Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) had been coordinating preparations for the event in collaboration with key ministries and government agencies.

PDU Head, Kusobile Kamwambi, said the forum would serve as a high-level platform to strengthen trade and investment ties between Zambia and the EU.

“The forum will showcase Zambia’s growing renewable energy, mining, and agribusiness sectors while promoting sustainable, inclusive, and climate-smart investment models aligned with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards,” Kamwambi said.

The three-day forum would draw participation from senior government officials from Zambia and EU member states, representatives of international financial institutions and more than 300 Zambian and European businesses interested in Lobito Corridor opportunities.

Participants would take part in business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) sessions designed to foster direct engagement with investors and highlight opportunities in agriculture, energy, and mining.

The forum would also explore ways in which the private sector and financial institutions, supported by the EU and the Zambian government, could drive sustainable investment and reduce business risks along the corridor.

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