The participation of Team Europe in the DRC Mining Week in Lubumbashi from June 12 to 14, 2024 marks a major turning point in the promotion of European investment and the strengthening of the strategic partnership between the EU and the DRC in terms of value chains critical and strategic raw materials. This flagship event brings together a high-level European delegation, including ambassadors from the EU, Belgium, Italy and Sweden, as well as the head of the regional representation for Central Africa of the European Bank of investments (EIB), alongside around forty European companies.
The EU’s marked presence at the DRC Mining Week illustrates its commitment to promoting dialogue with economic actors and the Congolese authorities, with the aim of concretizing the strategic partnership established in Brussels in October 2023. The roadmap it develop aims to initiate cooperation and investment projects with a view to creating local value chains and increasing direct supply opportunities in the DRC for European industry. According to Nicolas Berlanga, EU ambassador to the DRC, the evolution of this roadmap should soon be examined and validated, particularly with the advent of a new Congolese government.
The forums and workshops organized during this high-level event will provide a privileged platform for exchange on crucial themes such as energy, the investment climate and the development of national and regional infrastructure. The EU will particularly invest in a technical workshop dedicated to the engagement of the private sector and European investments in the EU-DRC partnership on sustainable value chains for critical and strategic raw materials. This workshop will aim to promote project sustainability and corporate responsibility, while encouraging the private sector to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities offered by the Congolese market.
The strategic partnership between the EU and the DRC, enshrined in the “Global Gateway” strategy, is of vital importance to support cooperation actions with the DRC and Zambia. The agreements reached between the two parties promote close cooperation in key areas such as the integration of sustainable value chains, mobilization of funds for infrastructure, promotion of sustainable and responsible production practices, research and innovation , as well as capacity building for compliance with relevant rules.
In short, Team Europe’s active participation in DRC Mining Week 2024 demonstrates its resolute commitment to consolidating economic and commercial ties with the DRC, and to promoting sustainable and responsible practices in the raw materials sector.. This initiative marks a significant step towards strengthened cooperation between the EU and the DRC in favor of sustainable and equitable economic growth for both parties.