In the DRC, the authorities, on Thursday in Kinshasa, presented an ambitious re-industrialization plan worth 58 billion US dollars. For experts, this plan is beneficial, but there is a huge funding challenge. However, this gives optimism to some.
as reported from Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa
Presenting the plan to an audience of diplomats, business leaders and other members of the government, Industry Minister Julien Paluku declared: “The ultimate goal is to reduce by 60% by 2030, the import bill valued at almost US $ 6.5 billion per year.”
The plan designates an emergency because DRK, which was among the most industrialized countries in sub-Saharan Africa when it became independent in 1960, saw the number of industries in its territory is plummeting. From about 10,000, there are only more than 500 today. In addition to minerals, the country exports nothing.
A budget of $ 58.3 billion The document of about 300 pages is accompanied by a “book of estimated infrastructure costs”. “This package of transport and communications infrastructure (airport, rail, river, lake, lake, road and energy) together with the densification of specific economic zones is valued at USD 58.3 billion. This means a five-year transport plan that should support sustainably the industrialization plan », States the Minister.
Without a plan to restructure and put in place a credible legal framework, I do not see how a $ 58 billion plan will be defended.
Economist Michel Nsomue from the financial intelligence and financial technology company Fondation Vaste
The majority of the budget, more than 43 billion, goes to the construction of roads and hydropower plants. About 10 billion goes to railways and renovations of airports and slopes.
The agricultural sector is a priority in this plan for many reasons. Professor Jean-Baptiste Ntagoma, one of its designers, explains that “it is from this sector that everything will be relaunched because there are many assets. The sector provides many jobs and this can reduce poverty ”.
In sixty years, the DRC experienced a reduction in its agricultural production to make room for minerals. To attract investors, the country already relies on its 6 special economic zones, the free zones.
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