Businesspeople from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Germany will hold a business forum in the DRC next year. Julien Paluku, the Congolese Minister of Foreign Trade announced the event, stating that it aims to bolster trade between the two countries. The event will be organized in partnership with Afrika Verein, a German-African association focused on trade.

"As coordinator of the DRC-European Union Task Force, our mission includes putting in place effective mechanisms to position the DRC to tap into the €150 billion investment opportunities of the Global Gateway fund,” Minister Paluku said.

German companies are already active in the key sectors in the DRC. In June 2023, President Félix Tshisekedi opened in Kinshasa, the capital, a Mercedes bus assembly plant built by Supreme Automobile. Also, under its 2025-2028 investment program, the DRC government plans to buy 750 new buses for public transport, creating more opportunities for German manufacturers.

RDC-INTELLIGENCE ECONOMIQUE en marche. C'est le tour des allemands:AFRIKA VEREIN est une Association Économique Germano-Africaine.
Son Directeur Général Mr Christop KANNENGIESSER mobilise les opérateurs économiques allemands sur invitation de la #RDC pour le business forum en… pic.twitter.com/hAy0Nk6pgk

— JULIEN PALUKU (@julienpalukucom) November 7, 2024

In the mining sector, the German agency GIZ is working with Entreprise Générale de Cobalt (EGC) to create a fair trade cobalt production chain. This project supports local communities, in line with the European Union’s vision, and it aligns with the DRC government's goal of improving living conditions through better resource management.

Another project involves Otojuste and  Mühlbauer.  Otojuste, a local company, has teamed up with Mühlbauer, a German firm, to deliver five million driving licenses in the DRC, in line with a deal inked in 2022.

Minister Paluku aims to secure a large share of the €150 billion from Germany's Global Gateway Africa program. Several sectors targeted by this program have strong potential for development in the DRC. The energy sector is particularly promising, as studies show that the Congo River can produce green hydrogen, which can help meet electricity needs in both the DRC and neighboring countries. Producing green hydrogen is a key focus of the Global Gateway Africa program.

Other important sectors include transport, agriculture, financing for private businesses, and helping companies adapt to climate change.

Georges Auréole Bamba