Lobito Corridor: building the future together

Local corridor. Limitless potential.

Stretching from the Atlantic coast of Angola through to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia’s Copperbelt, the Lobito Corridor has the potential to become Africa’s first transcontinental transport link.

By reducing freight transit time from Zambia/DRC to the sea from over a month to just one week, the Lobito Corridor is transforming how goods move across central and southern Africa. It is opening markets for farmers, small businesses and industries while creating new jobs and lowering carbon emissions.

Through Global Gateway, the European Union and its Member States are mobilising over €2 billion of investments in the people and places that bring the corridor to life – improving transport, boosting local economies, and creating lasting benefits for communities along the way.

A 360º approach: infrastructure, value-chains and skills

The Lobito Corridor is more than just rail and road connectivity. European investments follow a 360° approach that brings together:

Hard infrastructure
Railways, roads, border crossings, logistics hubs, private sector investment in the Port of Lobito.
Soft connectivity
Trade facilitation, TVET (technical & vocational education), sustainable agriculture value chains, critical raw materials value chains, renewable energy, biodiversity & climate adaptation.
Inclusive & sustainable growth
Focus on local jobs, women & youth inclusion, small-holder farmers, SME access, eco-tourism, critical raw materials with value-addition rather than pure extraction.

What it means for local communities

More jobs and skills

thanks to investments in vocational training and education, value chains and infrastructure

New income opportunities

for farmers and entrepreneurs thanks to stronger value chains and better access to markets

Opportunities for women and youth

through inclusive programmes for future-oriented sectors

Cleaner and faster transport connections

that reduce emissions and costs

Improved access to energy and water

improving daily life for communities

Partners in change

European Union
Angola
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Zambia

The EU, 9 Member States and the European Investment Bank (EIB) are working together in a Team Europe approach with partners including the African Development Bank, the Africa Finance Corporation, the World Bank and the US to support the Governments of Angola, the DRC, and Zambia in building an economic corridor that unlocks opportunities for millions of people.

Team Europe for the Lobito Corridor includes the European Union, the European Investment Bank (EIB), EU Member States Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands, Member State national development agencies (Agence Française de Développement - AFD, Allianz Trade, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti - CDP, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit - GIZ, Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland - RVO, Camões…), and private-sector companies.

Angola

Democratic Republic of Congo

Zambia

In Angola, EU and Member State initiatives are supporting sustainable agriculture value chains, vocational training, logistics, transport, renewable energy, and water supply. Farmers are gaining access to logistics hubs and export routes. New training centres and upgraded technical schools are preparing young people for jobs in agriculture, logistics, digitalisation and renewable energy. Investments in clean water and rural electrification are improving daily life along the corridor.

Examples of EU and EIB investments

Empowering farmers and logistics

€50 million EU programme to boost key sustainable agricultural value chains — grains, horticulture, tropical fruits. Targets include:

+25% productivity.
100 farmer organisations (50% women; 30% youth)
Creation of 8 new agro-logistics/processing businesses
20% of local agricultural production processed by 2030

Connecting producers to global markets

Caála Logistics Platform (€8 million) – co-funded by the EU and the Netherlands – linking Huambo’s producers to export routes. The first shipment of avocados from Huambo to Europe via Lobito marks a milestone for sustainable trade. Target:

+30% increase in value of agri and mineral exports through the corridor by 2030.

Building skills for the future

€43 million EU TVET programme with France, Portugal, AfDB to support TVET/skills for transport, logistics, agriculture, digital & renewables as well as youth entrepreneurship along the Lobito Corridor. Targets:

10,000 beneficiaries
50 private sector aligned courses
15 technical schools

Clean water for communities

€100 million EIB investment together with AFD (€150 million) and World Bank ($300 million) in water supply systems across three provinces, including the city of Luena — improving access for thousands of families along the corridor.

Examples of EU Member State and private sector actions

France
Rehabilitation of 10 agricultural institutes (€35 million AFD loan + €5 million EU blending) – 4 along the corridor.
Germany
German export credits support the electrification of 60 communities (including 3 Lobito Corridor provinces), providing energy access to 1 million people (€1 billion). General contractor: MCA Deutschland.
Netherlands
Avocado value chain support (€1.1 million, RVO) and Caála co-funding (Invest International).
Belgium
Key player in the Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium (1%).
Portugal
Key player in the Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium (49.5%). “Saber Mais” Youth Employability Programme (€3.1 million).
Spain
Cuanza International University in Cuito, Bié province (€35.1 million).

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Team Europe is investing in sustainable growth, jobs and responsible value chains, ensuring that local communities benefit directly from new trade and transport links. EU-backed programmes help local farmers and cooperatives adopt sustainable practices, while vocational training and entrepreneurship projects offer new prospects for miners and youth. Upgrading the railway and modernising border facilities will make trade faster and safer.

Rehabilitating rail, restoring landscapes

Upgrading transport links: Support to the rehabilitation of the DRC railway segment of the corridor to improve trade and mobility across the region.
Supporting trade and investment: EU funding (€6 million) for regional trade facilitation through TradeMark Africa is helping simplify customs and reduce barriers between DRC, Angola and Zambia.
Creating jobs in sustainable mining: Under the EU–DRC partnership on critical raw materials, a €10 million programme is supporting training, employment, and entrepreneurship in mining communities - promoting fair, transparent, and environmentally responsible value chains.
Boosting agriculture and rural livelihoods: A new €10 million project on agricultural value chains and ecological restoration in South-East Congo helps farmers increae productivity while protecting local landscapes.
Investing in renewable energy: Projects under the €15 million ElectriFI programme will expand access to reliable, clean power in Lualaba and Haut-Katanga.
Improving governance and transparency: EU support (€2 million) strengthens civil society oversight in the extractive sector, ensuring resources translate into real benefits for citizens.

From new railways to renewable energy and training for young workers, Team Europe investments along the Lobito Corridor are helping Zambia become a green, connected hub for regional trade and sustainable industry.

Across Zambia, Team Europe investments focus on green infrastructure, economic diversification, and human development — ensuring that local communities, farmers and businesses can all benefit from the corridor’s growth.

Examples of EU and Member State investments

Expanding rail and road links: Development of the greenfield railway from Chingola (Zambia) to Luacano (Angola) — part of an estimated €4 billion multimodal project — will cut export times from 35 days to just one week. The EU is supporting the feasibility study through a €2 million contribution.
The EU Railway Sector Support Programme (€50 million) is helping restore and modernise the national railway managed by Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL). This will connect the planned Lobito Corridor line to the existing TAZARA railway and the Southern Africa railway network (Durban), forming part of a future Trans-African rail link between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Improved rail speeds, safety and open-access rules will boost trade, attract freight from road to rail, and strengthen regional connectivity.
Investing in education and skills: Through Budget Support for Education Reforms (€40 million), the EU is working with Zambia to improve school quality and align training systems with new labour market needs — particularly in logistics, mining, and renewable energy sectors. This complements ongoing vocational training initiatives and apprenticeships co-developed with local industries (€6.5 million in partnership with ILO) and the €50 million budget support investing in human development.
Building sustainable industries: Under the EU–Zambia Critical Raw Materials partnership, the EU is supporting responsible value chains, training and local processing, including a €9.8 million programme with UNIDO for vocational training in artisanal mining.
The €6 million Human Rights in Critical Raw Materials initiative is ensuring that, as Zambia’s mining sector expands, local communities and workers benefit from safe and fair labour conditions.
Expanding access to water: The Nexus Energy Water Zambia (NEWZA 2.0) programme (€20 million) will provide renewable-powered water supply to fast-growing towns in the North-Western and Copperbelt provinces, meeting demand from new businesses and families drawn to the corridor.
Supporting farmers and rural jobs: The ENTERPRISE 2.0 programme (€6 million, co-funded by the EU and Germany) promotes sustainable legume and horticulture value chains, creating new opportunities for smallholder farmers, cooperatives and agri-SMEs.
Boosting small business and innovation: Team Europe supports Zambia’s private-sector development through the Economic Governance Support Programme, Enterprise Challenge Fund and GREENTech4CE — all designed to improve the business climate, digitalisation, and access to blended finance for green and circular economy ventures.
Investing in clean energy: Through ElectriFI and other facilities, Team Europe is helping to expand renewable energy access in rural areas and promote independent power producers to support Zambia’s green transition.

Follow the journey

Together, we’re building the future along the Lobito Corridor — from fields to ports, from skills to opportunity.

The development of the Corridor – in the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the European Union, the United States, Italy, Angola, Zambia, the DRC, the African Development Bank and the African Finance Corporation – will significantly boost trade and economic exchanges in the region and presents important opportunities for private sector investments.

Find out more about the Lobito Corridor and the Global Gateway partnership with Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.

Explore Global Gateway in Africa

Contact

For further information please contact: INTPA-A1ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (INTPA-A1[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

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