Enabel and Sida lead fact-finding mission on the Lobito corridor

Lubumbashi/Ndola/Lusaka, 10 September 2025 – As co-presidents of the European Practitioners’ Network (PN) for international cooperation, Enabel (Belgium) and Sida (Sweden) are leading a fact-finding mission on the Lobito corridor in the DR Congo and Zambia from 10 to 13 September 2025.

Driving green growth and regional cooperation

The Lobito corridor is a large-scale infrastructure project creating a rail link between the port city of Lobito on the Atlantic coast of Angola and mineral-rich regions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. More than a simple railway, the corridor will boost regional trade, create jobs, connect agricultural and secluded areas, and contribute to the economic development of Angola, Zambia and the DRC. It should also provide an efficient and sustainable route for the export of critical minerals such as copper and cobalt.

The delegation – composed of representatives from Belgium, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, the Czech Republic, Finland, Portugal, the UK and the EU – will closely examine how Team Europe, in the framework of the Global Gateway, can play a role in developing this corridor.

• In Lubumbashi (DRC), the mission will visit the Ruashi mining site and mining waste recycling site Société de Traitement de Terril de Lubumbashi, meet with the Congolese railway authorities and engage with private sector and civil society actors. Discussions will highlight how the Lobito corridor can contribute to greener and fairer transport and trade while benefiting local communities.
• In Ndola (Zambia), the delegation will meet with the Provincial Minister, the Zambia Chamber of Mines, the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) and the Zambia Association for Women in Mining, before visiting NORTEC to see how vocational training equips youth with skills for the green economy.
• In Lusaka, the delegation will meet with civil society, the EU Delegation and government representatives to explore sustainable mining and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) practices.

A step forward for Team Europe

Through these activities, the PN reaffirms its role in building a coordinated Team Europe approach that supports Africa’s twin green and digital transitions.

With Enabel already present in Katanga (DRC) and Sida in Zambia, both agencies stress that lasting impact depends on creating an investment-friendly environment, good governance and strong vocational training. Aligning efforts along the Lobito Corridor is essential to avoid fragmentation, and the Practitioners’ Network offers a natural platform to do so. Insights from this mission will feed into the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels on 9–10 October, helping shape a shared European vision for the Corridor.

About Enabel

Enabel is the Belgian agency for international cooperation. We work in partnership with governments, institutions, civil society and the private sector and civil society to tackle global challenges such as climate change, inequality and sustainable economic growth. By fostering cooperation among equals, Enabel connects, empowers and inspires people and organisations to build fair, inclusive and resilient societies.

About the Practitioners’ Network

The Practitioners’ Network is a platform of 27 European organisations and governmental institutions for international cooperation. By joining forces, its members strengthen coordination, share expertise and maximise the collective impact of European action worldwide.