A high-level coordination meeting on the Lobito Corridor was held in Luanda on Wednesday, bringing together regional officials and international development partners to advance one of Africa's most strategic rail and logistics projects.

Footage shows Angolan President Joao Lourenco receiving officials and development partners before joining a large coordination meeting attended by journalists.

The Lobito Corridor stretches more than 1,300 kilometres, linking the Atlantic port of Lobito with the mineral-rich regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia, providing a direct export route to global markets.

Antonio Manuel Cabral, Director General of the Benguela Railway (CFB), said the project goes beyond transport logistics.

"As part of this project, an economic development corridor is being designed - a corridor that connects the sea to Central Africa, specifically to countries such as Angola, the DRC, and Zambia. The design of this development corridor, a major undertaking, will boost economic infrastructure across various sectors. It has been emphasised today that this corridor, open both to the world and to local markets, will encompass virtually every type of trade imaginable, from agriculture and logistics to the iron and steel sectors."

Meanwhile, DRC Minister of Foreign Trade Julien Paluku discussed the potential social and economic effects of the corridor.

"This will have a significant impact on local economies and employment, as many jobs will be created as a result of these corridors. I believe the biggest challenge is human capacity itself. If we, the three countries concerned, understand that this is a real opportunity - a driver of economic growth at our disposal - then I believe the Angolan, Congolese, and Zambian populations, and more broadly all African populations, will see this corridor as a lever for the development of the entire continent. For me, it is inspiring to see the President himself opening high-level sessions so that we can take ownership of these vast programmes, which go far beyond simple infrastructure projects."

The Lobito Corridor is seen as a critical route for the DRC and Zambia, offering a faster and more cost-effective Atlantic outlet for mineral exports compared with traditional transit routes.