The Democratic Republic of Congo, a $90 billion+ economy with over 110 million people, is a global critical minerals powerhouse. The country also boasts 80 million hectares of arable land and massive freshwater resources suitable for agriculture and hydropower projects. This presents a significant opportunity for investors, with the DRC offering real, investable opportunities.
An investment conference between the DRC and South Africa will be held on November 16 and 17, 2026, at the Sandton Convention Centre. The event, themed "Together, Driving Africa's Growth Agenda One Market at a Time," will bring together investors, financiers, policymakers, and Congolese project owners. Participating businesses will gain direct access to ministers, provincial governors, and business leaders from the DRC.
The conference will focus on the DRC-South Africa investment imperative, the project pipeline, and matching priority DRC projects with financiers. Roundtables will cover agriculture and food security, mining, energy and digitalization, infrastructure, connectivity and special economic zones, and finance, insurance, and de-risking. The event will also feature pre-arranged meetings in three sector deal rooms: agriculture, infrastructure and digitalization, and mining and energy.
Capital is already moving into projects, including Kamoa-Kakula, the deep-water Port of Banana, lithium exploration projects, and the Lobito Corridor. South African companies have a long-standing presence in the DRC, with Standard Bank operating since 1992 and Vodacom entering in 2002. The Industrial Development Corporation and the DRC's Fonds de Promotion de l'Industrie signed a memorandum of understanding in February 2026 to explore collaboration and co-investment opportunities.
The US-Europe-Africa Business Council, in partnership with the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency and InvestSA, is hosting the conference. Professor Serge Tshibangu, Chairman of the US-Europe-Africa Business Council, encouraged delegates to come prepared to turn conversations into partnerships and investment. He also emphasized the importance of Africans investing in Africa.
Gauteng, Africa's seventh-largest economy, sees the conference as a runway to its third iteration of the Gauteng Investment Conference in April 2027. The province aims to provide and facilitate high-impact investment opportunities across the continent. The Invest SA Gauteng One Stop Shop will fast-track regulatory and compliance processes to aid investors and accelerate market entry.
Sthembiso Dlamini, Group Chief Executive Officer of the GGDA, noted that Gauteng can serve as a gateway for South African businesses and international investors seeking opportunities in the DRC. The partnership aims to connect capital and expertise with credible projects, turning relationships into investment and strengthening economic ties between Gauteng and the DRC.
Key points
- The DRC offers real, investable opportunities with a $90 billion+ economy and over 110 million people.
- The conference will feature pre-arranged meetings in three sector deal rooms: agriculture, infrastructure and digitalization, and mining and energy.
- Gauteng aims to provide and facilitate high-impact investment opportunities across the continent through its partnership with the DRC.
