Title: The DRC-Africa Forum 2023: A call for improvement in mining and industrial governance in Africa
Introduction :
The DRC-Africa Forum 2023, held recently in the Democratic Republic of Congo, brought together key mining sector stakeholders and policy makers to discuss improving mining and industrial governance in Africa. During this meeting, 18 recommendations were made with the aim of creating a true economic renaissance in this area. This article reviews the main recommendations and highlights the importance of this initiative for the development of the African economy.
Recommendations for improving mining and industrial governance in Africa:
Participants at the DRC-Africa Forum 2023 made 18 key recommendations to address the challenges facing the mining industry and battery metals value chain in Africa. These recommendations aim to encourage investments, strengthen technological capacities and improve governance in the sector. Among the most notable recommendations, we can cite:
1. The adoption of a general law on industries to ensure effective governance in the sector.
2. Make the Democratic Republic of Congo a preferred destination for investments in electric batteries by 2040.
3. The search for cutting-edge skills and technologies to sustain wealth creation in the metals and batteries value chain in Africa.
4. The establishment of models for pooling resources between African countries, like the DRC and Zambia, in order to guarantee effective investments in the mining sector and the processing industry.
5. Research and certification of mineral deposits to ensure economically profitable exploitation.
6. Increasing the supply of battery metals in Africa to meet growing market demand.
7. Strengthening the partnership between mining companies and technology companies to promote the establishment of mining value chains in Africa.
8. Improving the governance of the mining sector by strengthening the capacities of government actors.
9. The creation of financial markets in Africa to facilitate the integration of small savings and funds repatriated by mining operators into public investments.
Furthermore, these recommendations also highlight the importance of the fight against corruption and the establishment of investor-friendly regulations, in order to attract international partners and develop local processing of electric battery metals..
Conclusion :
The DRC-Africa 2023 Forum was an opportunity to bring together key players in the mining sector and policy makers to reflect on improving mining and industrial governance in Africa. The 18 recommendations made during this meeting highlight the challenges facing the sector and propose concrete avenues of action to promote the development of the African economy. It is crucial that these recommendations are implemented effectively to create a true economic renaissance in Africa’s mining and battery metals industry. With strong governance and appropriate measures, Africa has the potential to become a major player on the global stage in this area.