The Wallonie Bruxelles federation and the Wallonia region marked 40 years of presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo with a celebration at the Belgian school in Lubumbashi, the capital of the Haut-Katanga province in the southeast of the country. The event highlighted the accomplishments of the cooperation between the two nations. According to Annie Kabeya, the representative of Wallonie Bruxelles in Lubumbashi, this milestone commemorates four decades of partnership, dialogue, cooperation, and friendship.
Kabeya emphasized that the cooperation between Wallonie Bruxelles and the DRC has been built on mutual trust and collaboration, with a focus on sharing expertise and resources to address common challenges. She noted that over the past 40 years, the partnership has led to significant achievements, including the training of young people in various fields, support for women entrepreneurs, and initiatives in agriculture and environmental conservation.
The celebration was attended by various partners and stakeholders, including the provincial minister of culture, the rector of the University of Lubumbashi, artists, and business leaders. Kabeya highlighted the importance of investing in youth, women, knowledge, creativity, innovation, and partnership to contribute to the emergence of a new Congo. She also emphasized the need to concentrate efforts on a limited number of priority sectors, including environment and ecology, cultural and creative industries, and health.
Kabeya outlined the new dynamic of the partnership, which aims to strengthen the effectiveness, coherence, and impact of actions. She mentioned that the discussions are focused on a limited number of priority sectors, including environment and ecology, cultural and creative industries, and health, particularly in the areas of rehabilitation and resilience. The partnership also aims to take into account strategic territories, such as the Lobito corridor and the green corridor.
The Wallonie Bruxelles representative emphasized that the partnership is committed to continuing to invest in youth, women, knowledge, creativity, innovation, and partnership. She noted that the presence of Wallonie Bruxelles in the DRC is an opportunity for the two nations to work together and for the difference to become a source of richness. Kabeya concluded that the celebration is not only a commemoration of the past but also a look towards the future, with a focus on building a more innovative and creative partnership.
The event was marked by a presentation of the achievements of the partnership over the past 40 years, including the training of young people, support for women entrepreneurs, and initiatives in agriculture and environmental conservation. The partners and stakeholders present at the celebration reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the partnership and to working together to address common challenges.
The 40th anniversary celebration of Wallonie Bruxelles in the DRC is a significant milestone in the history of the partnership between the two nations. The event highlighted the achievements of the cooperation and looked towards the future, with a focus on strengthening the partnership and addressing common challenges. The partnership is expected to continue to play a significant role in the development of the DRC, particularly in the areas of youth, women, knowledge, creativity, innovation, and partnership.
Key points
- The partnership between Wallonie Bruxelles and the DRC has led to significant achievements over the past 40 years, including the training of young people and support for women entrepreneurs.
