A Solwezi based Investment Consultant notes with concern that the Lobito Corridor has not been utilized in boosting exports to other regions.
The African Development Bank embarked on a ‘Lobito corridor trade facilitation project’ that focuses on supporting value chains in Agri-business and construction sub-sectors through deployment of technical assistance to provide a range of capacity building initiatives, strengthening of stakeholder dialogue and promotion of business linkages.
Key deliverables in Zambia will include creation of linkages between SMEs and established firms in the mining and retail value chains.
Kenny Sinyangwe tells Money FM News via telephone that the corridor is unutilized with only twenty five percent of port is used to access Europe, Asia and other continents.
Mr. Sinyangwe says sometime back the African Development Bank and Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry organized a workshop in North Western Province for business community on the opportunities that exist at the Lobito Corridor.
He further notes that Zambia has done little in utilizing this corridor in terms of exports other than copper.
Mr. Sinyangwe is also encouraging local millers to take advantage of this corridor to export mealie meal to other countries.
The Lobito Corridor links Zambia through Ikelenge to Democractic Republic of Congo and Angola.