The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Industrial Promotion Fund (FPI) said ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) has asked it to take equity stakes in special economic zones developed by the firm in the country.

ARISE IIP is seeking to partner with the FPI on three SEZ projects. The first is the Kin-Malebo Special Economic Zone, where ARISE IIP holds a 60% stake and the Congolese state owns the remaining 40%. FPI Director General Hervé-Claude Ntumba Batukonke visited the site on Dec. 6, 2025. The project is currently 80% complete.

The second project is the Musompo Special Economic Zone in Kolwezi. When construction was launched on March 26, 2025, the Lualaba provincial government presented ARISE IIP as a partner for the zone, which is designed to produce battery precursors and batteries and could also include electric-vehicle assembly using locally sourced raw materials. No further details were disclosed.

The third project is the Banana Special Economic Zone, which aims to support the development of a deep-water port.

The FPI described the proposal as a “major strategic opportunity,” noting that it aligns with its Three-Year Action Plan for 2026-2028, adopted last September. The plan identifies the diversification of funding sources as one of the fund’s five priorities, including the use of innovative mechanisms such as equity participation and project co-financing. The objective is to expand the fund’s impact beyond traditional industrial project financing.

To date, the FPI has mainly focused on financing industrial projects, promoting local industry, supporting research and innovation, and developing economic infrastructure. Between April 2024 and May 2025, the institution allocated nearly $6.5 million in credit to six projects across several sectors, including pharmaceuticals, furniture, beverages, soaps and printing, according to data published on its website.

Timothée Manoke