In this quick catch-up filmed during the Luanda Infrastructure Financing Summit, Railways Africa Editor Phillippa Dean speaks with Maria Lafont, Senior Advisor for the African Region at the International Union of Railways (UIC). Maria reflects on the rail-focused discussions at the summit and the relevance of UIC’s work across the continent.
She notes that the event covered many of the major railway projects included under Agenda 2063, with strong emphasis on the need for harmonised standards to support cross-border corridors, attract investment and improve operational safety and predictability. She highlights additional priorities raised during the sessions, including digitalisation, smart infrastructure, legal and institutional frameworks enabling bilateral agreements, and the financial mechanisms required to structure bankable rail projects.
The discussion closes with an update on UIC’s cooperation with the Southern African Railways Association (SARA). Maria outlines the ongoing technical assistance UIC provides to support interoperability, technical specifications, wagon exchange, cross-border standards and project preparation across the region.
