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 focused on advancing PGI’s flagship Lobito Corridor, which aims to develop transcontinental 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 highlighted progress on the Lobito Corridor since signing a seven-side Memorandum of Understanding for infrastructure investment last year. This included milestones for the new greenfield Zambia-Lobito rail line, aiming to build toward Africa’s first open-access rail network. Discussions also reinforced commitment for expanding the economic corridor and preparing Heads of State to codify a roadmap 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 completing a key feasibility study and signed a concession agreement with Zambia and Angola's governments to develop and operate the rail. This new transportation infrastructure will connect Angola and Zambia for the first time, with groundbreaking expected in early 2026. It is projected to unlock Zambia’s Copper Belt and spur economic integration 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.
PGI investments across the Lobito Corridor reflect U.S. commitments made at the African Leaders Summit to focus on partnership and investment beyond traditional aid. In less than 18 months since this initial commitment, over $3 billion has been dedicated to developing this corridor through investments in multiple sectors including transportation, logistics, agriculture, clean energy, health, and digital access. By bringing together G7 PGI partners and African financial institutions, this consortium aims to boost regional trade, attract private investments, and promote sustainable development across various sectors.
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