DRC Mining Week 2026: The Lobito Corridor, a New Argument for the DRC to Attract Mining Investment
During DRC Mining Week 2026 in Lubumbashi, Rachel Pungu Luamba, Director General of the National Agency for Investment Promotion (ANAPI), highlighted the many assets of the Democratic Republic of Congo in attracting national and international investors. At the heart of her remarks was the Lobito Corridor, presented as a strategic lever for economic transformation and competitiveness for the Congolese mining sector.
An Economy Experiencing Sustained Growth
Relying on the latest projections from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Rachel Pungu Luamba recalled that the DRC is now among the main economies of Sub-Saharan Africa. With a nominal GDP estimated at 123 billion dollars in 2026 and projected economic growth of 5.9%, the country is recording performances above the regional average.
For the head of ANAPI, these results reflect growing investor confidence, illustrated in particular by the success of the DRC’s first Eurobond issuance on international financial markets.
Transforming Resources into Added Value
Although the mining sector remains the main driver of the national economy, the DRC now aims to go beyond the export of raw materials. The country wants to strengthen the local processing of its resources in order to create more added value, jobs and economic benefits.
Endowed with more than 1,100 varieties of minerals, including several considered strategic for the global energy transition, the DRC has unique potential to develop an integrated and competitive mining industry.
The Lobito Corridor, a Major Logistics Asset
In this dynamic, the Lobito Corridor appears as a key infrastructure. Linking the mining basins of Haut-Katanga and Lualaba to the Angolan port of Lobito on the Atlantic Ocean, this corridor offers an efficient logistics alternative to traditional export routes.
According to Rachel Pungu Luamba, this infrastructure will help reduce transport times, lower logistics costs and improve the competitiveness of Congolese products on international markets. It also represents an important opportunity to attract investment in mineral processing and industrial infrastructure.
A Regional Market with Strong Potential
Beyond its natural resources, the DRC is also relying on its significant human capital. With more than 110 million inhabitants, the majority of whom are young, the country represents a vast market and a growing workforce.
The DRC’s membership in several regional economic areas, including SADC, COMESA and the AfCFTA, also gives investors privileged access to a market of nearly one billion consumers.
Strengthening Investor Confidence
The Director General of ANAPI also emphasized the reforms undertaken to further improve the business climate. These include guarantees provided under the Mining Code, the ongoing revision of the Investment Code and the digitalization of ANAPI’s one-stop shop.
These initiatives are all aimed at strengthening transparency, simplifying administrative procedures and securing investments, with the objective of making the DRC a reference destination for mining and industrial capital in Africa.
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