Thursday, 26th October, 2023 – To mark the climax of Zambia’s participation in the inaugural Global Gateway
Forum in Brussels, Belgium, parties to the Zambia-Lobito Railway Line, the Lobito Corridor Development,
and the Strategic Critical Minerals, have today signed Memoranda of Understanding.
The Africa Finance Corporation, African Development Bank, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo,
European Union, United States of America and Zambia – today signed a memorandum of understanding for
development of the Lobito Corridor and the new Zambia-Lobito railway line. During the signing ceremony in
Brussels, Belgium, today, the following represented the parties to the Memorandum of Understanding on
the Zambia-Lobito Railway Line and the Lobito Corridor Development Initiative:
1. AMOS HOCHSTEIN – Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy & Investment, United States of
America;
2. Dr SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE, President of the Zambia was represented by Minister of Finance
and National Planning;
3. JEAN-MICHEL LUKONDE – Prime Minister, Democratic Republic of the Congo;
4. JOSÉ DE LIMA MASSANO – Minister of State for Economic Coordination, Angola;
5. JUTTA URPILAINEN – Commissioner for International Partnerships, European Union;
6. SANJEEV GUPTA, Board Member, Africa Finance Corporation; and,
7. SOLOMON QUANYOR, Vice President – African Development Bank.
The Minister is accompanied to the GLOBAL GATEWAY FORUM by Head of the Presidential Delivery Unit
KUSOBILE KAMWAMBI, Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary Dr HAPENGA
KABETA, and Zambia’s Ambassador to Belgium, who is also Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the
European Union, SYLVESTER MUNDANDA.
The Memorandum of Understanding outlines the intentions of the signatories to collaborate across multiple
sectors to realize the full economic potential of the corridor, building on the Lobito Corridor Transit
Transport Facilitation Agency agreement signed by the three neighbouring Governments in January, 2023 –
and anchored by historic envisioned investment in developing the Zambia-Lobito greenfield railway line.
Reflecting on the development, Dr MUSOKOTWANE has expressed Zambia’s gratitude that the new railway
line, connecting North-Western Zambia to the Benguela railway line in Angola and ultimately to the port of
Lobito, represents the most significant transport infrastructure that our development partners such as the
United States, the European Union, Africa Finance Corporation and the African Development Bank will help
to develop on the African continent. Once complete, there will be enhanced regional trade, growth, and
advancement of the shared vision of connected and open-access railway from the Atlantic Ocean to the
Indian Ocean.
Demonstrating the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) in action – a signature initiative
of US President JOSEPH BIDEN – this strategic transport infrastructure unlocks regional trade and enables
additional investments in digital connectivity, agriculture value chains, green energy supply chains and rural
health center electrification, among other transformative economic imperatives.
We are glad that the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment will offer a credible alternative to
Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia in meeting infrastructure needs for regional integration,
development and improved trade. Clearly, developing a significant multi-country transport infrastructure
project that follows the highest international standards regarding labor, environment and quality is the
centerpiece of PGI’s flagship economic development corridor.
Following the signing of the MoU, the Africa Finance Corporation will work with the parties to launch the
feasibility and preparatory studies necessary to further prepare this extensive infrastructure project – a
critical concrete action step anticipated before the end of 2023.
CRITICAL MINERALS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
During the signing of a memorandum of understanding on critical minerals in Brussels, Belgium, today, the
following represented the parties to the MoU:
1. JUTTA URPILAINEN – Commissioner for International Partnerships, European Union; and,
2. Dr SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE, MP – Minister of Finance and National Planning, Zambia.
Speaking at the event, Dr Musokotwane said the MoU will guide the Zambian Government and the European
Union in their quest to improve management of strategic and critical raw materials. This will enable Zambia
to seize enormous opportunities from emerging developments such as green energy transition while the EU
will benefit from having a secure sustainable raw materials value chain. The MoU also widens the Zambia
and EU Cooperation in line with our mining reform objectives, to be articulated in the comprehensive
strategy on critical raw materials.
Going forward, EU investments in critical minerals will help to stimulate exploration, mining and mineral
processing, and result in mutually beneficial partnerships that contribute to inclusive economic growth. Our
expectation is that investments from the EU in Zambia’s critical raw materials sector will also support local
value addition. This is important to us because we want to see elevated mining processing and refining taking
place in the country. We also expect the increased exports of strategic minerals to translate to jobs for our
people and revenue for Government through tax collection.
With EU support, we are committed to developing the sector and becoming a regional and global sustainable
supplier of strategic minerals, to support the global movement to green and digital transformation. We
expect that the development of the critical raw materials sector will leave no one behind, as benefits will
accrue to the people who work in the mining industry especially small-scale miners. This will aid in reducing
poverty and developmental inequalities.
Dr MUSOKOTWANE is in Brussels, Belgium, representing President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA at the ongoing
INAUGURAL GLOBAL GATEWAY FORUM. The high-level forum, convened by the President of the European
Union Commission URSULA VON DER LEYEN, commenced on Wednesday and ends today.
Issued for the delegation by:
(Original Signed)
MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND NATIONAL PLANNING