The Democratic Republic of Congo is seeking to establish a new industrial partnership with Japan aimed at promoting local processing of natural resources and building domestic value chains, a senior government official said at a bilateral business forum in Kinshasa.
Speaking at the opening of the DRC–Japan Business Forum, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the National Economy, Daniel Mukoko Samba, called for stronger economic cooperation between the two countries centred on industrial development, technology transfer and investment in strategic sectors.
The forum, organised by the Embassy of Japan in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, brought together government officials, investors and business leaders to explore opportunities for expanding economic ties between the mineral-rich Central African nation and one of Asia’s leading industrial economies.
“We must move beyond the simple export of raw materials,” Daniel Mukoko Samba said, stressing that the Congolese government wants to prioritise local processing of its vast mineral resources to create jobs and generate greater economic value within the country.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the world’s leading producers of key minerals used in modern technologies, including cobalt and copper, both essential components in the global energy transition and electric vehicle supply chains.
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However, most of these resources are exported in raw or semi-processed form, limiting the country’s ability to capture the full economic benefits of its natural wealth.
According to the deputy prime minister, the government is now seeking industrial partnerships capable of supporting the development of domestic processing industries and strengthening the country’s manufacturing base.
Priority areas outlined by authorities include the creation of value chains around strategic metals, particularly those used in battery production and advanced technologies.
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Officials say opportunities exist in battery manufacturing, advanced mining technologies, mineral recycling, specialised metallurgy and the development of industrial clusters in special economic zones.
The initiative reflects a broader strategy by the Congolese government to diversify the economy and reduce its reliance on raw mineral exports by developing downstream industries.
In his remarks, Daniel Mukoko Samba highlighted what he described as strong complementarities between the two countries.
Japan possesses advanced industrial expertise and technological capacity, while the Democratic Republic of Congo holds some of the world’s largest reserves of critical minerals needed for modern manufacturing and the global energy transition.
The country also has significant energy potential, particularly through the Inga Hydroelectric Complex, one of the largest hydropower sites in the world, which could provide the electricity needed to support energy-intensive industrial activities.
Beyond the mining sector, Congolese authorities also identified agriculture as a major area for expanded cooperation with Japanese investors and technology providers.
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Key opportunities include agricultural mechanisation, modern irrigation systems, agro-processing industries and technical training programmes aimed at improving productivity and developing agro-industrial value chains.
Officials say strengthening the agricultural sector could help improve food security while creating employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas.
The forum marks an effort by the Congolese government to reposition its economic relationship with Japan toward a more strategic industrial partnership.
Rather than focusing primarily on trade in raw materials, authorities say the objective is to promote long-term cooperation based on local transformation of resources, industrial investment and the transfer of skills and technology.
Such an approach, officials say, could support the development of a more competitive national industry while enabling the country to capture greater value from its natural resources.
Government representatives at the forum said discussions with Japanese companies and institutions are expected to continue as Kinshasa seeks to attract investments capable of supporting its industrialisation ambitions.
For policymakers, building partnerships that combine foreign technology with domestic resources is seen as a key step toward transforming the country’s economic structure and strengthening its position in global industrial supply chains.
