Zambia strengthens partnerships at Mattei Plan high-level meeting in Rome

Zambia participated in a high-level meeting in Rome on “The Mattei Plan for Africa and Global Gateway,” with the Lobito Corridor at the centre of discussions. The Zambian delegation was led by Minister of Finance and National Planning Hon. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, who represented President Hakainde Hichilema at the gathering of European and African leaders, multilateral institutions and development financiers.

Hosted by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the meeting focused on accelerating the Lobito Corridor as a flagship transport and energy route linking Zambia with Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, while positioning Italy as a key partner under the Mattei Plan.

The meeting underscored the Rome mission's central role in advancing Zambia's economic diplomacy with Italy and the European Union, particularly in infrastructure, energy and trade facilitation, and Zambia's commitment to using strategic corridors to promote value-addition and regional integration.