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The Zambian government has signed and exchanged Letters of Intent with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the European Union (EU) to advance the development of critical infrastructure under the Lobito Corridor initiative, which aims to enhance regional connectivity between Zambia and Angola.
Under the agreement with the AfDB, Zambia will construct 550 kilometres of railway from Chingola to the Angola border, and 260 kilometres of main road within the corridor, stretching from Chisese to Mwinilunga and Jimbe.
A separate Letter of Intent was exchanged with the European Union, reaffirming mutual commitment to the realization of the Lobito Corridor infrastructure project, which connects Zambia to Angola and ultimately to the Atlantic Ocean, opening new trade and investment opportunities.
Finance and National Planning Minister, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, signed both agreements on behalf of Zambia on the sidelines of the High-Level Meeting on the “Mattei Plan and the EU Global Gateway” held in Rome, Italy, on June 20, 2025, according to a statement issued in Lusaka on Saturday.
The meeting was co-chaired by Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, and attended by high-level delegations from Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia.
The Mattei Plan, spearheaded by the Italian government, is a new strategic approach to redefining Africa-Europe relations—from a charity-based framework to one built on mutual benefit and long-term cooperation.
The plan aligns closely with the EU Global Gateway Strategy, which aims to mobilize up to €150 billion in public and private investments for Africa by 2027.
At the roundtable, Dr. Musokotwane emphasized that Zambia’s engagement reflects a shared vision for sustainable development and regional integration.
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“Zambia is transitioning from simply exporting raw materials to developing industries that add value to our resources. This will create more jobs and economic activity along the Lobito Corridor,” he stated.
He also thanked the Italian government, the EU, and development partners for their commitment to building strong, trust-based partnerships that foster shared prosperity and long-term transformation in Africa.
The Minister added that Zambia’s participation in the Rome meeting reaffirmed its belief in strategic, action-oriented partnerships as essential to Africa’s growth.
On the sidelines of the event, Dr. Musokotwane held bilateral meetings with key partners, including World Bank President, Ajay Banga, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director m, Kristalina Georgieva, and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) President, Samaila Zubairu.
He was accompanied by Patricia Kondolo, Zambia’s Ambassador to Italy, and Jito Kayumba, Special Assistant to the President for Finance and Investments, among other officials.
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