The Economic Regulation Fund (FOREC) and the Bumba Rice Company (SRB) signed a memorandum of understanding in Kinshasa on June 18, 2026, aimed at supporting the development of the rice sector in Mongala province.

The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between the Ministry of National Economy, through FOREC, and SRB around a central objective: strengthening local rice production and contributing to the gradual reduction of the Democratic Republic of Congo's dependence on food imports.

The partnership aims to capitalize on the agricultural potential of the Bumba region in Mongala. The parties plan to develop an integrated program to strengthen the rice value chain, with a focus on modernizing production, improving productivity, developing agricultural infrastructure and creating economic opportunities for local communities.

The Bumba Rice Company will serve as the lead coordinating company for the sector. The company is expected to help organize producers, support production, facilitate processing and expand market channels for locally produced rice.

SRB is a Congolese company wholly owned by Plantations et Huileries du Congo (PHC). According to the statement, this structure will allow SRB to draw on PHC's experience and local presence while developing a business dedicated to rice production.

Public-Private Cooperation

The government presented the partnership as a step toward bringing together public- and private-sector stakeholders in support of food security. The objective is to increase national rice production, support Congolese producers and strengthen rural economies.

The announcement did not provide operational details of the project. No figures were disclosed regarding planned investments, the acreage involved, expected production volumes, infrastructure projects or a detailed implementation timetable. The statement said only that the next steps are expected to lead to the project's official launch in the coming days at one of the project sites in Mongala.

According to a statement from the Ministry of National Economy, the initiative forms part of the government's strategy to strengthen food security over the long term, promote domestic production and support agricultural sectors considered strategic.

The initiative comes amid broader efforts to revive rice production in Bumba. In October 2025, during a mission to Mongala, Deputy Prime Minister for National Economy Daniel Mukoko Samba announced the government's intention to relaunch the National Rice Program in that part of the country.

In April 2026, several tonnes of improved rice seed were delivered to Bumba as part of the national agricultural campaign aimed at reviving rice cultivation and strengthening domestic food production.

Boaz Kabeya