Africa’s Connectivity Key to Unlocking Trade Opportunities
Zambia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Museba Frank Tayali, has underscored the need for enhanced connectivity across Africa to improve trade within the continent and with global markets. Speaking at the U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Luanda, the Minister highlighted the importance of developing a network of corridors that can integrate multiple regional economies.
Central to this vision is the Lobito Corridor, a strategic infrastructure project spanning Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia. The corridor is set to become a major trade route, with additional linkages planned to extend its reach. These include connections to the Eastern Seaboard via the port of Dar es Salaam and the TAZARA Corridor, integrating into Zambia’s rail network through Chingola, Kanongesha and Luacano, before linking with the Benguela Railway to the port of Lobito.
The corridor’s scope is broader than the three core countries. It is positioned to serve the wider SADC region, the East African Community, and the Great Lakes Region. Planned extensions will allow integration with Malawi and Mozambique, including rail links through the Mchinji railway and the port of Nacala.
The Minister noted that such large-scale infrastructure cannot be pursued by a single country and requires regional cooperation and international partnerships. He also stressed that improving road and border infrastructure is equally important to ensure seamless connectivity, with a focus on reducing delays and enhancing trade efficiency.
Modern border infrastructure, including the adoption of scanning technologies and integrated border systems, is viewed as essential to enable the free flow of goods between countries. The goal is to reduce logistical bottlenecks and create One-Stop or No-Stop Border Posts, enabling faster movement of cargo and lowering trade costs.
The Lobito Corridor project was formally backed on 27 October 2023 through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Zambia, Angola, and the DRC, along with key development partners including the United States, European Union, African Development Bank, and Africa Finance Corporation. The corridor is expected to play a transformative role in boosting intra-African trade under the framework of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
