According to bank provided information, the Trade Facilitation Project seeks to accelerate growth in domestic and cross-border trade along the Lobito Corridor through the implementation of harmonized trade facilitation instruments, strengthening coordination of joint corridor development activities, and fostering effective participation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in value chains. It's designed as standalone regional operation that meets the requirements of regional public goods. The Lobito Corridor represents an alternative strategic outlet to export markets for Zambia and DRC and offers the shortest route linking key mining regions in these two countries to the sea. In Angola, the Corridor connects 40% of the country’s population and several large scale investments are taking place in agriculture and retail in the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bie, and Moxico traversed by the Corridor. In DRC, the Corridor connects the mining provinces of Tanganyika, Haut-Lomami, Lualaba and Haut-Katanga. Copper concentrates are currently transported from these DRC Provinces to Zambia for smelting for further export and the Corridor offers a potential conduit to overseas markets. The Project has two main components, namely: (i) Capacity Building for Trade Facilitation and Corridor Coordination, (ii) Technical Assistance for Value Chains and Economic Clusters Development and (iii) Project Management.

1. Capacity Building for Trade Facilitation and Corridor Development. This component will facilitate the development of trade facilitation instruments along the Lobito Corridor, build institutional capacity among Corridor States for coordinated planning of corridor development and promote dialogue on among key stakeholders.
2. Technical Assistance for Value Chains and Economic Clusters Development: This Component will focus on supporting value chains in Agri-business and construction sub-sectors through deployment of technical assistance (TA) to provide a range of capacity building initiatives, strengthening of stakeholder dialogue and promotion of business linkages.

Name: Gerald Cornells Ochieng AJUMBO
Email: g.ajumbo@afdb.org

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