US to Expand Lobito Corridor to the Indian Ocean via Tanzania

The United States plans to expand the Lobito corridor from Angola to the Indian Ocean through Tanzania.

This was highlighted at a digital press briefing recently hosted by the Africa Regional Media Hub, part of the US Department of State’s Bureau of Public Affairs.

The Lobito Corridor connects the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia to regional and global trade markets via the port of Lobito in Angola, providing an effective and cheaper route for exporting metals, agricultural goods, and other products.

The intended expansion to integrate Tanzania in the Lobito Corridor makes concrete progress toward the vision of a Trans-Africa Corridor from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. 

Ms. Helaina Matza, the acting Special Coordinator for the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), stressed that the expansion of the Trans-Africa Corridor “includes relaunching our partnership with the DRC and engaging with the Tanzanian Government and private sector on the next steps towards extending the economic corridor to the Indian Ocean.  As President Biden has said from day one of the launch of this flagship effort, this corridor has never just been about building infrastructure; it’s about building the future of the region.”

For this, she recently met with Tanzanian officials and private sector partners to identify new sustainable infrastructure projects that will connect the region and provide economic growth for generations.

The project will utilize existing infrastructure, such as the TAZARA railway, to ensure connectivity and maximize commercial potential.

The project’s key stakeholders—the United States, the European Union (EU), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the African Finance Corporation (AFC)—have made financial commitments to support the initiative.

The AfDB has pledged USD 500 million, Italy is contributing USD 320 million, and the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is adding USD 250 million to support AFC’s broader infrastructure efforts, in addition to USD 10 million for kick-off the feasibility study.

The expansion of the corridor is expected to create jobs, boost regional and global trade, and drive investment in sectors like agriculture, digital connectivity, food security, and clean energy, ultimately fostering long-term economic growth in the region.

The Lobito Corridor

The Lobito corridor, set to be completed by 2029, is the first strategic economic corridor launched under the flagship PGII in May 2023.

The PGII is a shared G7 commitment to advance public and private investments in sustainable, inclusive, resilient, and quality infrastructure.

Through this partnership, the G7 aims to mobilize up to USD 600 million by 2027 in order to narrow the infrastructure investment gap in partner countries.

Since its launch in 2022, the PGII has been delivering investments across a range of pressing priorities, including: climate change and the energy crisis; supply chain resilience; connectivity through digital infrastructure and transport networks; sustainable health systems; and gender equality and equity.

The Lobito Corridor is expected to unlock the enormous potential of the region, enhance export possibilities for Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Zambia, and create added value and jobs through investments and soft measures.