QUESTION: (Via interpreter) I have two questions. I would like to talk about corruptions – solution – just very quickly, two questions.
The fight against corruption, no U.S. companies possible in the DRC as long as there is corruption. That’s what the Ambassador Hammer told us a few months ago. During your visit, you also talked about business in the DRC, American companies. Can they come? Are you satisfied with the work by the DRC?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: (Via interpreter) I think that there’s a greater awareness now that corruption is a cancer that attacks democracy, that attacks the Congolese people, and that also attacks the possibility of foreign investments. We’ve seen positive approaches by the government. I mentioned them with my – your colleagues. But there’s still some work to be done, especially about transparency from the government, contracting, et cetera.
But I think that there’s an approach underway, there’s a direct connection between this approach and the possibility for investments. For example, in the mineral sector, we have now established a partnership for mining for minerals, and we need to exploit minerals but not human beings. And what’s important in this partnership is namely possibly to have investments. What we are asking for is that this exploitation take place according to real values – namely, respect for the workers, respect for the environment, respect for transparency.
The DRC, I think, will take part in this partnership, and this is quite promising for the future. So if there’s no corruption, U.S. companies will come, yes.
*To add, as thing's Heat up in the DRC re:- East v West atm,
China did not wait for the improvement of the business climate to invest in the DRC
Chinese investors settled in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2008 without worrying about the socio-economic situation in the country or without waiting for reforms or the improvement of the business climate.
Without ignoring the difficulties, Chinese companies are making a great contribution to the economic and social development of the DRC.
According to a document consulted, the taxes paid in 2021 by Chinese companies contributed 16% to the state's budget revenues, without including royalties or dividends in materials or finance.
The Sino-Congolese partnership, both long-standing and woven by fraternal ties, has contributed significantly to the industrialization of the country.
A dream that dates back to the independence of the DR Congo, to enhance its subsoil, create wealth, and improve the living conditions of its population.
In 2006, while the Congolese government lacked the financial means to rebuild the country, the mining resources were not enough for it.
The DRC has had difficulty finding funding from its other partners.
Thus, the group of Chinese companies responded positively to the call of the DRC by investing their own financial means without laying down many conditions and without hesitation beforehand.
Where does the idea of formulating the Chinese Contract come from, that is to say, to develop the Congolese subsoil by investing significant means in the mines, to have an income in order to reinvest in the construction of infrastructures and contribute to the economic growth of the country (DRC).
With Chinese investments, the DRC now has not only more and more mines, but also processing chains.
Chinese companies, when they invest in the mines, they also set up on-site mineral processing and production chains, such is the case of the companies SOMIDEZ, SICOMINES, COMIKAL, COMILU, etc.
China not only brings capital, but also contributes to the development of the DRC industry by establishing modern industrial companies.
With this rise, there are more added values and more local labor, with skilled workers.
It is an effective contribution to industrialization, a long-term and sustainable contribution to the development of the DRC.
Other investors are slow to come, but China is still present
The President of the Republic, Félix -Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo participated in various forums in the West as in the East, he received several statesmen, from where he so much praised the potential of the country, in order to attract investors...
Several promises remain unfulfilled until now and different conditions have been given to him.
While other investors are slow to settle in the DRC, China is still present and contributes significantly to the development of the country.
Out of his concern to develop the country, President Tshisekedi Felix Tshisekedi wanted to organize last month at the city of the African Union, a meeting to assess the state of the implementation of reforms and ministerial assignments in business climate, in order to attract investors to the country.
Should we wait for investors without insurance or evolve with China, which has always shown the will to support the DRC in its reconstruction? The Head of State is called upon to lean towards China and continue this friendly cooperation which is obviously intended to be win-win.
As proof, the Chinese contribution remains visible in several achievements across the country, in particular the Busanga hydroelectric dam with Chinese capital of around 656 million USD, the first major energy infrastructure project in the Greater Katanga region in the DRC for more than 60 years old.
The land port of Kasumbalesa is on the list, a Chinese capital project of around 230 million USD which has promoted the import and export trade of the DRC.
It is also necessary to include the construction of a cultural center in Kinshasa, a gift from China to the DRC, which would henceforth be the largest building in Central Africa, in the cultural sphere, we also mention the construction of the water treatment plant with a capacity of 220,000 m3 at Lukunga in the city of Kinshasa, in the order of 100 million USD, entirely financed by the Chinese government at the rate of 4.5%.
Still with the infrastructure, the Sino-Congolese friendship hospital in N'Djili, a donation from the Chinese government in Kinshasa in the amount of $6 million for a capacity of 150 beds, the 50th anniversary hospital, the reference general in Lubumbashi, the government hall, the government hall, the people's palace, the martyr stadium, the Kalemie stadium, the Goma stadium, the Zongo II hydraulic power station.
It continues with the triumphal boulevard, Sendwe and Lumumba which connects the city center to N'djili airport, the June 30 boulevard which connects Kitambo store to the central station, the tourism avenue which connects Kitambo Store to pumping, Kinsuka Bridge, Kasa-vubu Avenue, By-passe Avenue in Kinshasa; the Musonoi-Kapata-Kolwezi road, the boulevard of Butembo, the rehabilitation of the Boma-Matadi road as much Chinese investment to be accounted for.
it should be realized that since 2008 – the year the Sino-Congolese contract was signed – the whole of the European Union and the whole of North America have not built as much infrastructure as the Chinese over the past 15 years : urban roads, inter-provincial roads, airport facilities, hydroelectric power stations, water treatment plants, etc.
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Plenty of Food for thought on the Road to Mining Manono
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