Transport and Logistics Minister, Frank Tayali, is hopeful that the change of administration in the United States of America (US) would not derail the progress made on the Lobito Corridor project.
Zambia is host-country for the only greenfield portion of the Lobito rail line, and government has lined up plans to leverage this rail line to promote investment in the mining and other sectors such as agriculture and tourism.
Tayali said Zambia remained open to working with the US government as a way of enhancing economic diplomacy.
He was speaking during a Panel Discussion dubbed Dialogue on the Lobito Corridor, Critical Minerals and US Collaboration at the ongoing Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape town, South Africa.
“For a long time, Zambia was predominantly skewed towards working with the East but now has opened doors to also work with the US because the Zambian government is happy with some of the work that has been done so far.
“The collaboration and support of the US Government has been seen in the pivotal role played in the soon to be opened car battery manufacturing plan in Ndola,” Tayali said.
The US, he stated, should not create a vacuum that other people might want to fill up, but leverage on the gains that the two countries had realised together over time.
He emphasised that it was important that US Government maintained that strategic global leadership to be able to help the Global South in achieving some of the much-needed economic advancement.
The Minister said this would also help in lessening the burden in the number of migrants that would have to be removed from that country.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments