US and DRC Governments Recognise Lobito Corridor Concession Signing at Paris Steering Committee Meeting

The two governments placed the Lobito Corridor concession among the DRC Designated Strategic Projects they reviewed in Paris, alongside the Grand Inga hydropower project. The committee described the concession signing as a key step towards stronger regional trade and connectivity.

For companies interested in projects under the Strategic Partnership Agreement, the governments noted the DRC's new legislation setting tax and customs rules for those projects, and said interested companies can contact either government as implementation moves forward.

• The governments of the United States and the DRC recognised the signing of the Lobito Corridor concession agreement at the second Joint Steering Committee meeting of their Strategic Partnership Agreement, held in Paris.
• The committee's inaugural meeting was held in February 2026.
• The committee described the Lobito Corridor concession signing as a key step towards stronger regional trade and connectivity.
• The US International Development Finance Corporation briefed the committee on its growing investment pipeline in the DRC.
• The delegations discussed next steps on the Grand Inga hydropower project.
• The committee noted the DRC's recent legislation setting tax and customs rules for projects under the Strategic Partnership Agreement.

The governments of the United States and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have recognised the signing of the concession agreement for the Lobito Corridor as a milestone on the DRC's Designated Strategic Projects, in a joint statement released by the two governments and published by the US Department of State on 6 November 2026.

Representatives of both governments met in Paris for the second meeting of the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) of the US-DRC Strategic Partnership Agreement, which reviewed progress since the committee's inaugural meeting in February 2026. The JSC described the Lobito Corridor concession signing as a key step towards stronger regional trade and connectivity.

The committee also welcomed growing US private-sector interest in the Strategic Asset Reserve (SAR), and the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) briefed members on its growing investment pipeline in the DRC. The delegations discussed next steps on the Grand Inga hydropower project and explored critical minerals processing, export and energy sector opportunities for US companies.

JSC members noted the DRC's recent adoption of legislation setting the tax and customs rules for projects under the Strategic Partnership Agreement, and committed to continued close coordination on its implementation. They said the aim is for Congolese citizens and workers to benefit through job creation, skills development and the growth of Congolese and American companies, and reaffirmed that peace and security are fundamental to the agreement's objectives.

The two governments encouraged eligible companies to take advantage of the opportunities the agreement creates, and said interested companies may contact either government as implementation moves forward.