By John Chola

……as Minister Musokotane details mining, manufacturing, and agriculture as top investment priorities in high-stakes meeting with EIB Vice President.

In quest to unlock its economic potential, Zambia is positioning the Lobito Corridor as the primary engine for regional trade and industrial growth, with the European Investment Bank (EIB) affirming its role as a key financial partner.

The announcement came during a pivotal bilateral meeting between Zambia’s Finance and National Planning Minister, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, and EIB Vice President Karl Nehammer on the eve of the Zambia-European Union Lobito Corridor Business Forum.

The high-level talks focused on transforming the corridor—a joint initiative with Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo—into a modern trade artery linking Zambia to the Atlantic Ocean.

This aligns with Zambia’s broader strategy to become a regional hub for trade and investment.

Key Pronouncements and Investor Takeaways

1. A Clear Vision for the Corridor:
Minister Musokotwane left no doubt about the project’s centrality to Zambia’s future,stating the government’s goal is to “build an efficient trade route that supports mining, manufacturing, and agriculture—while unlocking value for citizens and investors alike.”

He identified the Lobito Corridor as a game-changer, presenting “major investment opportunities to expand Zambia’s export capacity and deepen regional economic integration.”

2. Three Priority Sectors for Investment:
The Minister outlined three concrete areas where investment is urgently sought to boost cargo volumes:

· Mining: Expanding extraction and export capacity.
· Value Addition: Promoting local processing and manufacturing to increase the value of exports.
· Agriculture: Advancing agro-processing and productivity to diversify the economy and strengthen rural communities.

3. EIB’s Firm Commitment:
In a strong vote of confidence,EIB Vice President Karl Nehammer reiterated the bank’s commitment to Zambia’s ambitions. He confirmed the EIB is ready to work with corridor partners to “strengthen connectivity, boost trade, and unlock the route’s full economic potential.”

4. A Partnership That Withstands Headwinds:
The meeting underscored a robust and growing partnership.

Notably, the EIB has continued to receive debt service payments throughout Zambia’s debt restructuring, a powerful signal to the international investor community of Zambia’s reform credibility and fiscal responsibility.

With an active portfolio of over US$536 million in critical infrastructure projects, the EIB’s engagement is a cornerstone of Zambia’s development strategy.

The Bigger Picture: Signaling Stability and Opportunity

The dialogue serves to signal policy stability and investment continuity.

It reinforces that Zambia’s partnerships with major multilateral lenders are not only intact but expanding, anchored on transparency and a clear reform agenda under the Eighth National Development Plan.

For investors, the message is clear: Zambia is open for business, with the Lobito Corridor offering a tangible, high-priority pipeline of bankable projects in partnership with one of the world’s largest financiers of climate action and infrastructure.