Acting Special Coordinator Helaina Matza to Review Key U.S. Infrastructure Investments in DRC and Tanzania

Washington, D.C. — On Wednesday, 28 August 2024, Helaina R. Matza, the Acting Special Coordinator for the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) at the U.S. Department of State, will provide a comprehensive review of her recent travels to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Tanzania. Her visit, spanning from 21 to 28 August, focused on exploring opportunities to expand the Lobito Corridor in the DRC and integrate Tanzania into this significant economic initiative.

The Lobito Corridor is a critical infrastructure project aimed at establishing a Trans-Africa Corridor, connecting the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. This ambitious vision seeks to boost economic connectivity and trade across the continent by creating a seamless transportation network. During her visit, Matza engaged with key stakeholders to assess how U.S.-led investments could enhance the development of this corridor, particularly through new investments that extend its reach to the Indian Ocean via Tanzania.

A central element of Matza’s review will be the ongoing progress on the greenfield Zambia-Lobito rail line, a major infrastructure project designed to link Zambia and Angola, thereby enhancing the flow of goods between these nations and beyond. By expanding this economic corridor to Tanzania, the U.S. aims to further integrate East and Southern Africa into a cohesive trade network, unlocking new economic opportunities for the region.

Matza’s role as Acting Special Coordinator for PGI places her at the forefront of U.S. efforts to drive infrastructure development in Africa. She brings to this role extensive experience in energy and climate-related initiatives, having served as the Director of Energy Transformation in the Bureau of Energy Resources at the Department of State. In this capacity, she led strategic engagements on clean energy and power sector issues, as well as efforts to secure global clean energy supply chains.

Her career at the Department of State, spanning over a decade, has been marked by leadership in innovative, multi-million-dollar initiatives focused on energy, climate change, and environmental sustainability. Matza has held various influential roles, including as a lead sustainability advisor and a U.S. negotiator at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Her background also includes service as Director of Climate Diplomacy and Energy Transformation at the National Security Council in the White House, where she played a key role in shaping U.S. energy and climate policies.

As Matza reviews the outcomes of her recent trip, her insights will be crucial in shaping the future of the Lobito Corridor and its potential to transform trade across Africa. The expansion of this corridor not only represents a significant economic opportunity for the continent but also underscores the U.S. commitment to fostering sustainable development through strategic infrastructure investments.