Louis Watum Kabamba

TBY talks to Louis Watum Kabamba, Minister at the Ministry of Industry and Development and of Small and Medium Enterprises, about industrialisation,

The transformation of materials is essential for the industrialization of the DRC. How does the Congolese State encourage the rise of value chains?

Two plans should be noted in the policy put in place by the Congolese State to encourage value chains. In terms of planning, the commitments of HE Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, Head of State, were translated into priority areas in the Government’s 2024-2028 action program in terms of business creation. These priority areas are broken down according to the main orientations of the strategic policy and the Industrialization Master Plan with clear objectives and precise performance indications. In terms of operation priorities are given to the development of agricultural and mining value chains, notably through support and supervision of SMEs and incubators throughout the country. Also important is the strengthening of financing mechanisms for SMEs, and the acceleration of the development of specific Special Economic Zones dedicated to the development of value chains for critical minerals (electric batteries) in the context of the manufacturing of electric batteries like those of Kasao, Kiswishi, and Kolwezi, located in the Lobito Corridor.

How is the Ministry promoting formalization, and what can we expect in the near future?

To promote the formalization of SMEs, the Ministry has already initiated support and facilitation in the business creation process. Mechanisms such as the Business Plan Competition (COPA) will enable the identification and registration of formal and informal SMEs. Furthermore, a project to dematerialize a business creation process is currently being designed for the establishment of a digital platform in support of the Single Window for Business Creation (GUCE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice.

The industrialization of the DRC requires infrastructure to maintain supply chains and promote exports. How does the Ministry manage the lack of connectivity in a country the size of the DRC?

Logistics (in terms of infrastructure, water, energy, or digital) constitutes one of the main obstacles to the promotion of entrepreneurship and the industrialization of our country. Thus, to effectively overcome this major constraint, all industrial projects must now integrate the required logistics components into their operational plans. It is within this framework that synergy is developed with the energy, infrastructure, and transport sectors in order to respond to this real need. Human capital will always remain the most valuable asset, and as industries become more complex, the demand for skilled labor increases.

How is the state of talent in the DRC adapting to new market realities?

The drive to rebuild the industrial fabric and promote entrepreneurship requires proven expertise and experience in this regard; the axis relating to the development of human resources integrates the operation of reversing the process of brain drain with a view to leveraging the talents of the Congolese population. It is within this framework that the identification, support, and monitoring of several Congolese inventors listed by the Technology and Innovation Support Center (CATI) in partnership with the World Organization for Intellectual Property (WIPO).