Zambia is deepening its partnership with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to unlock investment along the strategic Lobito Corridor, a vital transport link connecting Zambia to the Atlantic Ocean via Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Finance and National Planning Minister Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane met with EIB Vice President Karl Nehammer ahead of the Zambia–EU Lobito Corridor Business Forum, scheduled for 13–14 November in Lusaka, to discuss opportunities for regional trade growth and infrastructure development.
The Lobito Corridor is central to Zambia’s connectivity and industrialization agenda, aimed at boosting cargo flows, facilitating trade efficiency, and supporting economic diversification. Dr. Musokotwane outlined three priority areas for investment: expanding mining output to increase freight volumes, promoting value addition to enhance industrial competitiveness, and strengthening agriculture and agro-processing to diversify export revenues. He emphasized that transforming the corridor into a modern trade artery would attract private capital, create jobs, and enhance regional integration.
EIB Vice President Karl Nehammer praised Zambia’s reform momentum and reiterated the Bank’s commitment to deepening collaboration. Zambia currently holds active EIB loans worth USD 536.4 million, supporting major projects in transport, energy transmission, and water and sanitation, reflecting strong international confidence in the country’s policy and fiscal stability.
The renewed partnership underscores Zambia’s readiness to implement bankable projects along the corridor, with feasibility studies identifying financing gaps and investment priorities. Once complete, the Lobito Corridor is expected to enhance logistics efficiency, strengthen Zambia’s position as a regional trade hub, and drive industrial growth across Southern Africa.
