Today, on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly, Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted a Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) Lobito Corridor Roundtable with key partners. This high-level discussion advanced PGI's flagship Lobito Corridor, aiming to develop trans-continental connectivity from the Atlantic to Indian Oceans. Participants included the Foreign Ministers of Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania and Zambia, the European Partnerships Commissioner, and the Italian Vice Foreign Minister alongside the CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and the Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Human Development of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The roundtable showcased the consortium's progress on the Lobito Corridor since the signing of the seven-side Memorandum of Understanding for infrastructure investment last year. This included key milestones for the new greenfield Zambia-Lobito rail line, building toward the continent's first open-access rail network. Discussions also solidified commitment for the next phase of expanding the economic corridor and preparing the Heads of State to codify the roadmap forward in an anticipated summit during the President of the United States' upcoming trip to Angola.
Several key announcements were made during the event. AFC, lead developer of the Zambia-Lobito rail project, announced the completion of the key feasibility study, and signed a concession agreement with the governments of Zambia and Angola to develop and operate the rail. This historic new transportation infrastructure, connecting Angola and Zambia for the first time and on track to break ground in early 2026, will unlock Zambia's Copper Belt and spur economic integration and inclusive growth across borders. Additionally, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced a $2 million grant for an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the rail project, which will ensure it is delivered according to the highest international standards.
PGI investments across the Lobito Corridor exemplify the U.S. commitment made at the African Leaders Summit to go beyond traditional aid and focus on partnership and investment. In less than 18 months since the initial U.S. commitment, over $3 billion has been dedicated to developing the corridor through investments in multiple interconnected sectors, including transportation and logistics, agriculture, clean energy, health, and digital access. By bringing together G7 PGI partners and African financial institutions, the consortium demonstrates a new model of investing in infrastructure in frontier markets, aiming to boost regional trade, attract private investments, and promote sustainable development across various sectors.
