The partnership between the DRC and the United States in terms of economic development was at the center of a lunch organized in the Bukavu room of the Karavia hotel in Lubumbashi during the Congolese week of mines. This event brought together experts from the mining sector to discuss the opportunities and challenges of exploiting critical minerals in the DRC such as cobalt, lithium, tantalum, tin, zinc and niobium.
Representatives from USAID, the U.S. Agency for International Development, showcased the Clean Gold Project initiative, which has established responsible supply chains linking miners’ cooperatives to buyers downstream. This initiative is meant to strengthen the traceability of artisanal gold in the DRC through due diligence processes.
USAID also launched a new funding initiative to support due diligence, pre-feasibility, and start-up proposals for small and medium enterprises. These criteria include, in particular, agreements for the export of critical minerals concluded in the following months.
The partnership between the DRC and the United States will continue to encourage investments in the Congolese mining sector, aiming to promote transparency, accountability and a level playing field for all actors involved. This partnership also aims to level the playing field in all areas, including the mining sector.
This lunch was an opportunity to highlight the efforts made by the two countries against corruption, as well as their common commitment to promote respect for international standards to prevent human rights abuses throughout the process of exploitation. .
In sum, this roundtable provided an opportunity to take stock of the opportunities and challenges of exploiting critical minerals in the DRC, while underscoring the importance of a strong partnership between the United States and the DRC to support economic development in accordance with international standards