Solomon Quaynor announced the initiative during the press conference to review the two-day visit to Angola, which ended this Thursday, to strengthen dialogue with the Government and public and private business sectors, and to present the main financial instruments of the AfDB available to leverage investments in the country.
According to Solomon Quaynor, within the scope of the Lobito Corridor development plan, which is being drawn up by the Government, he discussed with the authorities “the possibility of implementing a 200 million dollar project for the agricultural sector in the east of the country”.
Asked whether the US$200 million comes as a reinforcement of investment in the Lobito Corridor following the freezing of investments by USAID, the United States agency for Development and humanitarian aid, the head of the AfDB said that the Lobito Corridor has the support of three countries and other entities, including the AfDB, experienced in projects of this kind.
“We will continue to work with the governments of Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Tanzania and Italy,” said Solomon Quaynor, reiterating the continuity in the implementation of this project.
In turn, the Minister of Planning said that “there is no freeze, and companies continue to negotiate with American banks, with the AfDB, to be supported to invest in this corridor”.
The governor highlighted that USAID planned to provide support to the Ministry of Transport of 250 thousand dollars, to support institutional activities and not for the Lobito Corridor.
“There is no freeze, because there is still no funding of any kind,” he said.
In April last year, the governments of the United States and Angola signed an agreement for the disbursement of a first installment of a total funding of 235 million dollars from USAID, in the period 2024-2027, for the fight against malaria and HIV/AIDS, promotion of family planning and the Women in Agriculture program, in the Lobito Corridor.
Victor Hugo Guilherme considered the visit of this AfDB official to be productive due to the meetings he held with civil society and the banking sector, highlighting the willingness of this African financial institution to learn about the functioning of the Angolan economy and listen to existing needs, namely the strengthening of human capital.
The head of the Planning department considered the announcement of this new financing for the Lobito Corridor, scheduled for this year, important, as it focuses on agriculture, in an area that, in geographical terms, needs investment.
“We are talking about the eastern provinces, Moxico and Lundas (…) and we are making every effort to ensure that it is active as quickly as possible,” he pointed out.
