{"id":322340,"date":"2025-11-24T22:39:45","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T12:39:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=67562"},"modified":"2025-11-24T22:39:45","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T12:39:45","slug":"eu-signs-agreement-for-holistic-investment-of-up-to-200-million-euros-in-lobito-corridor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=322340","title":{"rendered":"EU signs agreement for \u201cholistic investment\u201d of up to 200 million euros in Lobito Corridor"},"content":{"rendered":"

The rail race for Africa is on. RailFreight.com wrote a story<\/a> about the renewed \u201cscramble for Africa\u201d in October. Now, a new chapter is opening. The EU and Zambia signed a multimillion euro agreement for a broad investment in the crucial Lobito Corridor.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>The investment aims to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of Zambia Railways, but goes beyond the performance of the rail operator as well. Investments in water, (renewable) energy agriculture, access to financing, mining cooperations, education and governance in the Lobito Corridor regions should provide a boost to the economy. Zambian news outlet ZNBC Today calls the investment \u201cholistic\u201d in its approach.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy reducing freight transit time from Zambia and 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\u201d, the European Commission wrote about the corridor earlier. \u201cIt is opening markets for farmers, small businesses and industries while creating new jobs and lowering carbon emissions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Image:
Image: \u00a9 European Commission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Critical raw materials<\/h2>\n

European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef S\u00edkela, visited Zambia from 10 to 12 November to deepen the EU-Zambia partnership and promote industrial and infrastructure development along the Lobito Corridor. S\u00edkela also discussed \u201ccooperation on critical raw materials\u201d, which is what much of the geopolitical rail competition in Africa is about.<\/p>\n

Ahead of the visit, the European Commission said that the agreement would cover an investment of 116 million euros. ZNBC Today has reported that a total investment of 200 million euros was agreed upon.<\/p>\n