Doha: HE Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the National Economy of DR Congo, Daniel Mukoko Samba, emphasized the significant impact of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in bolstering peace and investment relations. This visit is particularly crucial given Qatar's role in supporting peace efforts in the eastern regions of the DRC and is expected to pave the way for new economic and investment collaborations between the two nations.
According to Qatar News Agency, HE Daniel Mukoko Samba stated that the signing of the Doha Framework Agreement for Peace between the DRC government and the Congo River Alliance/M23 Movement on November 15 was instrumental in restoring security and stability. He acknowledged HH the Amir's significant contribution to the success of this agreement and expressed optimism that the visit would facilitate the implementation of various investment projects between the two countries.
HE Mukoko Samba also highlighted the potential for enhancing economic relations to match the existing political and diplomatic ties, citing substantial opportunities for collaboration in sectors such as infrastructure, ports, airports, and energy, given the DRC's considerable natural and human resources.
He revealed plans by the Congolese government to establish a sovereign wealth fund, aspiring to leverage Qatar's expertise in this domain. He praised the Qatar Investment Authority as a leading sovereign wealth fund and emphasized that while the DRC's legal framework is investor-friendly, overcoming the stereotype of the country as a challenging investment environment remains a priority. He noted that the mining sector has successfully attracted over $2 billion in foreign investments annually over the past two decades.
Addressing regional economic integration, he urged Qatari investments to focus on connectivity and infrastructure projects in the Great Lakes region to enhance stability and shared development. He stressed that economic interests among regional countries outweigh any existing differences.
In conclusion, HE Mukoko Samba encouraged Qatari businesspersons to explore the abundant investment opportunities available in the Congo River, Kisangani City, and other promising areas of the DRC beyond the capital, Kinshasa, underscoring the vast potential of the country.