By Mwansa Kaumba
Secretary to the Treasury Felix Nkulukusa says the country is now focussed on creating productive jobs and increased household income, having managed to stabilise the economy.
In a statement, Nkulukusa stated that the government of Zambia, in conjunction with the World Bank Group, would host the Second Lobito Corridor Coordination Meeting in Lusaka from October 05-06, 2026, that would being together Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, development partners and private-sector stakeholders to accelerate coordinated implementation of one of Africa’s major emerging trade and investment corridors.
Nkulukusa stated that the meeting that would be held at the InterContinental Hotel in Lusaka, came at an important point in Zambia’s economic transition, where he said substantial progress had been made in restoring macroeconomic stability and restructuring external debt.
He said the country was now increasingly focused on converting those gains into higher investment, expanded production, stronger exports, productive jobs and increased household incomes, while safeguarding fiscal and debt sustainability.”
”The Second Lobito Corridor Coordination Meeting is therefore timely, as it will provide us with an opportunity to connect macroeconomic reform with the infrastructure, trade facilitation, private capital, and regional integration required to unlock Zambia’s productive potential[CK1] ,” Nkulukusa stated. “It is expected to be officially opened by the Republican President, His Excellency Mr. HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, alongside representatives of Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the World Bank Group, represented by its Managing Director for Operations, ANNA BJERDE.”
He stated that for Zambia, the Lobito Corridor was more than a transport route and represented an economic development and investment platform capable of connecting productive sectors to regional and global markets, reducing trade and logistics constraints, and mobilising capital into mining, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, logistics, and other value chains.
”Over the two days, discussions will progress from broad commitments towards specific and measurable delivery priorities. The agenda will also cover discussions on infrastructure investment, private-sector mobilization, a joint trade facilitation roadmap, development masterplans, an update on the operations of the Lobito Atlantic Railway, and the institutional work program of the Lobito Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency,” Nkulukusa stated. “Delegates will also review priority road and rail investments, feeder networks and cross-border infrastructure requirements, while identifying financing gaps, technical-assistance needs and reforms necessary to improve the investment environment. Importantly, the meeting is designed to examine priority actions for the next six to 24 months, implementation milestones and areas requiring bilateral, trilateral, or development-partner follow-up.”
Nkulukusa stated that infrastructure alone would not deliver the full economic benefits of the corridor, as investment in rail, roads and logistics needed to be matched by efficient border systems, predictable customs procedures, stronger institutions, competitive financing, and policies that enable businesses to invest, produce, and trade across borders.
”We expect the Lusaka meeting to strengthen coordination among Zambia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and help develop the Corridor into a functioning economic ecosystem that connects infrastructure with production, investment, markets, and regional value chains,” stated Nkulukusa. “Our aspiration is ultimately to ensure that regional cooperation and infrastructure translate into increased investment, production and trade, stronger businesses, productive employment and higher incomes for people across the participating countries.”
Nkulukusa continued: “Zambia looks forward to welcoming participating governments, development partners, investors, and other stakeholders to Lusaka as we collectively move the Lobito Corridor from high-level commitment toward coordinated implementation, bankable investment and measurable development outcomes.”
