The Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, participated on Thursday, June 15, 2023 in the DRC Mining Week, held in Lubumbashi. The theme of this mining week was “to recognize the trophies and victories of the mining industry in the DRC and outside”.
Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde was delegated by the President of the Republic, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, to represent the government at this event, testifying to the importance given to the mining sector in the DRC.
The Prime Minister was invited to speak on the relationship between the mining sector and agriculture, and spoke about the evaluation of the 2018 Mining Code, five years after its implementation. He proposed a reorientation of taxes from the mining sector to the benefit of the agricultural sector, stressing that this could help boost the latter without increasing its taxes. Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde also called for the establishment of the necessary framework for the emergence of agricultural production.
The need for local processing to create added value and propel the agricultural sector was also highlighted by the Prime Minister. He mentioned the protection of the local market against external competition and recalled the role played by the agricultural sector in the past for the construction of the Union Minière du Haut Katanga (UMHK), the ancestor of Gécamines.
During this mining week, provincial governors also presented their strategies to ensure food security in the DRC, with an emphasis on agriculture and industrialization.
It should be noted that funds from the mining sector can play an important role in the development of Congolese agriculture. This sector is a pillar of the DRC’s economy, and support for its development is essential for reducing poverty and improving the living conditions of the population.
In short, the participation of Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde in Mining Week was an opportunity for the Congolese government to renew its commitment to the mining sector and to recall the importance of economic diversification in the DRC.