The visit, which is being organized by the US Embassy in Angola, aims, according to a statement released this Friday by this diplomatic representation, to show the US commitment to Angola's security and the investment and demining along the Lobito Corridor, the name given to the railway line that crosses Angola over 1300 kilometers connecting the port of Lobito to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Between April 1 and 3, Ambassador James Story, the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe, accompanied by 17 ambassadors of various nationalities, as well as senior Angolan officials and business leaders, will visit key locations of this project of fundamental importance for the transportation of critical minerals, whose strategic importance has been highlighted by Europeans and North Americans.
"During the visit, Ambassador Story and the accompanying delegation of ambassadors will engage with local communities, demining experts and government officials to highlight the transformative impact of these initiatives on people's lives," the statement said.
Among the sites to be visited are the Biópio Solar Park, a precursor to the SunAfrica project, the Pensana company, which received 3.4 million dollars in preliminary funding for feasibility studies with a view to developing a rare earth mine and refining facility along the Lobito Corridor, and the mining terminal at the port of Lobito.
The visit comes ahead of the US-Africa Business Summit to be held in Luanda in June, highlighting the growth of bilateral trade and investment relations between Angola and other countries on the continent.
"In addition, the visit serves as a signal to US companies that the Lobito Corridor is 'open for business'," the embassy added in the statement.
