Tens of investors from Kenya have joined their peers from around the world in scouting for lucrative opportunities in mineral rich new frontier, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In a week long showcase organised by regional lender Equity Group, the investors will engage in town hall sessions with relevant government representatives in Katanga, Kolwezi and other top destinations to examine investment potential in mining, agriculture among other segments.

According to Equity Group, the investor delegation includes participants from Burundi, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda alongside representatives from Brazzaville, Poland, Zimbabwe, Eritrea, Lebanon, India, the UAE, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Germany, the UK and South Africa.

Equity says the mission seeks to unlock opportunities, strengthen regional economic ties and accelerate cross‑border trade as the DRC’s entry into the East African Community expands the single market.

The lender has positioned the mission as a deal‑making platform that is structured to link capital to on‑the‑ground projects, with its DRC unit, Equity BCDC, aligned to structure and finance transactions in subcontracting, logistics, energy and agro‑processing tied to mineral demand.

“We seek to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs, investors and high-growth markets, empowering businesses to scale, expand, explore investment opportunities and thrive,” said Equity’s Director for Brand and Global Communications, Nicole Dow.

Dow noted that the programme is also built to connect entrepreneurs and investors with high‑growth markets and give them direct exposure to emerging opportunities. 

The investors have been urged to look past ore extraction and seize first‑mover openings in DRC's services, logistics, energy and processing across the Katanga value chain. What's more, opportunities in the consumer economy forming around the region’s mining towns is also on the mission's radar.

Critical minerals 

“As the world’s leading source of cobalt and a top global producer of copper and other critical minerals, the DRC plays a central role in the global green energy transition," notes Paty Paterne Mushagalusa, Associate Director for Commercial Projects at Equity BCDC.

Mushagalusa adds: "Beyond mining, the country holds vast agricultural potential, major infrastructure gaps that present investment opportunities and a large youthful consumer base driving urban demand."

“DRC is the world’s second-largest producer of copper and the leading producer of cobalt, with Katanga alone contributing approximately 40 percent to national GDP and accounting for nearly 80 percent of exports. Katanga is a strategic engine for the global energy transition,” said Yves Bizunga, Equity BCDC’s Deputy Managing Director for the Southern Region.

Bizunga urged investors to look beyond mining into services anchored to mineral exports, including logistics, energy, subcontracting and supply‑chain finance.

Policy and facilitation agencies in Haut‑Katanga moved to reassure investors on procedures, incentives and repatriation. 

Lydia Wabiwa, who heads the Haut‑Katanga office of the Agence Nationale pour la Promotion des Investissements (ANAPI), said the authority assists investors through applications and simplifies procedures to unlock incentives, urging delegates to route approvals through state‑backed channels. 

Lubumbashi‑based finance professional Michel Kinkele Orelis pointed to mining governance and traceability reforms, stronger tax administration and clearer compliance rules, adding that company registration now takes about three days when documents are in order, with standardized invoicing (introduced last December) and guarantees on profit repatriation improving predictability.

Opportunities in agriculture and mining

Beyond commodities, sector players highlighted agriculture and light manufacturing to meet fast‑rising urban demand and reduce food imports. 

“DRC has a strong opportunity in agribusiness, agro-processing, and food import substitution,” said president of the Federation of Congolese Agribusiness (AGRICOS) Eric Lwamba Mayanga.

Mayanga noted that AGRICOS offers potential investors a strategic gateway to sustainable agribusiness in the DRC, providing market insights, partnership facilitation, value chain support, and access to local networks. 

"We promote innovation, investment opportunities, and responsible practices that enhance productivity, create jobs, and drive inclusive growth across the agriculture sector," he explained.

He added that the country’s location, bordering nine countries and a member of EAC, COMESA, SADC and AfCFTA, provides access to Atlantic trade routes and regional trade corridors.

The trade show will see participants immerse in B2B meetings and site visits in Lubumbashi and Kolwezi focused on mining‑adjacent services, logistics, energy solutions and agro‑processing. 

Equity said it will match investors with projects and discuss financing structures, from trade finance to working‑capital lines, to accelerate execution.

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