Kolwezi city is hosting the 7th edition of the Katanga Business Meeting (KBM) (May21-22).

The gathering themed, “Investing in a sustainable future for a winning Africa”, seeking to tap into strategic resources of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has brought together Policy makers, investors, entrepreneurs, financial institutions and development partners.

These meeting is focused around the issues related to economic transformation, industrialization and the development of the strategic resources of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The opening ceremony at the Lualaba Provincial Assembly, was presided over  by Daniel Mukoko Samba, representative of the central government.

“Kolwezi must become the global epicenter of discussions on cobalt.” In his address, the Deputy Prime Minister for the National Economy emphasized the strategic importance of the Katanga Business Meeting in an international context marked by competition for critical minerals.

According to him the KBM is not “just another conference”, but a platform for economic dialogue and building partnerships capable of supporting the industrial ambitions of the DRC.

DRC holds nearly 70% of the world’s cobalt supply and that it now intends to impose a new cobalt doctrine focused on creating local value.

“Africa can no longer focus on exporting raw materials without processing. Our political ambition must be clear: to produce, process and industrialize in Africa,” argued Miguel Dacosta, Angola’s envoy to the DRC.

Miguel Dacosta is also at the KBM gathering. He emphasized that the DRC and Angola together represent an economic area of nearly 168 million inhabitants, with strategic assets capable of strengthening regional integration.

While the DRC plays a central role in the global supply of cobalt, copper, coltan and lithium, Angola has significant port and logistics infrastructure as well as considerable energy potential.