The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, made his first official visit to Botswana as part of the DRC-Botswana Business Forum. The main objective of this visit was to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and to encourage Botswana economic operators to invest in the DRC.
During his speech, President Tshisekedi highlighted the natural resources of the DRC, in particular the country’s mineral wealth. However, he pointed out that the mining orientation of the economy had so far been marked by the exploitation of raw materials in their raw state, thus depriving the Congolese economy of the added value of its real wealth. He expressed his desire to change this paradigm by advocating the on-site processing of raw materials.
Félix Tshisekedi also mentioned the great Inga project, which, if developed in all its phases, will be able to transport energy to the depths of southern Africa, including Botswana if the need arises. .
President Tshisekedi also insisted on the legal stability of business relations by declaring that the DRC was a country where it was good to invest. He also highlighted the geographical position of the DRC which makes it a gateway to Central Africa, West Africa and near the Atlantic Ocean, as well as its potential market of nearly 100 million consumers.
In conclusion, President Tshisekedi’s visit to Botswana was a real success, strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries and offering new investment opportunities in the DRC.