Congolese people living abroad are being encouraged to turn their financial resources, professional expertise and international networks into productive investments that create companies, strengthen local entrepreneurs and generate durable employment in the DRC.
KINSHASA — October 26, 2026 — The Democratic Republic of the Congo is calling on its global diaspora to become an active investment partner in the country's economic transformation by bringing capital, technical knowledge, innovation and business connections back into the national economy.
The appeal was delivered at the conclusion of DiaspoBoost 2026, a Kinshasa colloquium devoted to the contribution of Congolese communities abroad to national development.
Fiston Lukwebo Musengo, the Kinshasa provincial minister responsible for Commerce, Industry, Entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises, said the diaspora possesses strategic resources that can support investment, strengthen local businesses and create sustainable jobs.
According to the Congolese Press Agency, the meeting brought together members of the diaspora, Congolese entrepreneurs, investors and public institutions to explore practical forms of economic cooperation.
From Global Experience to Investment at Home
Congolese communities abroad have built careers, businesses and professional networks across Africa, Europe, North America, the Middle East and other regions. DiaspoBoost 2026 focused on how that experience can be connected more directly to opportunities inside the DRC.
The government's message was that, the diaspora's contribution can go beyond financial transfers to families. Congolese people abroad can invest in productive enterprises, introduce new technologies, mentor entrepreneurs, support professional training and help local companies reach international markets.
Minister Lukwebo identified agriculture, health, education, infrastructure, technology and entrepreneurship among the sectors capable of benefiting from diaspora capital and expertise.
The minister's address reported by 7sur7.cd described the diaspora as a strategic force for the economic development of the DRC, with the professional skills, innovation capacity, financial resources and international relationships needed to support national transformation.
BUSINESS & INVESTMENT
DRC Urges Diaspora to Invest Skills and Capital at Home
Oct 26, 2026
Oct 26, 2026
7 min read
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Congolese people living abroad are being encouraged to turn their financial resources, professional expertise and international networks into productive investments that create companies, strengthen local entrepreneurs and generate durable employment in the DRC.
KINSHASA — October 26, 2026 — The Democratic Republic of the Congo is calling on its global diaspora to become an active investment partner in the country's economic transformation by bringing capital, technical knowledge, innovation and business connections back into the national economy.
The appeal was delivered at the conclusion of DiaspoBoost 2026, a Kinshasa colloquium devoted to the contribution of Congolese communities abroad to national development.
Fiston Lukwebo Musengo, the Kinshasa provincial minister responsible for Commerce, Industry, Entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises, said the diaspora possesses strategic resources that can support investment, strengthen local businesses and create sustainable jobs.
According to the Congolese Press Agency, the meeting brought together members of the diaspora, Congolese entrepreneurs, investors and public institutions to explore practical forms of economic cooperation.
From Global Experience to Investment at Home
Congolese communities abroad have built careers, businesses and professional networks across Africa, Europe, North America, the Middle East and other regions. DiaspoBoost 2026 focused on how that experience can be connected more directly to opportunities inside the DRC.
The government's message was that, the diaspora's contribution can go beyond financial transfers to families. Congolese people abroad can invest in productive enterprises, introduce new technologies, mentor entrepreneurs, support professional training and help local companies reach international markets.
Minister Lukwebo identified agriculture, health, education, infrastructure, technology and entrepreneurship among the sectors capable of benefiting from diaspora capital and expertise.
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The minister's address reported by 7sur7.cd described the diaspora as a strategic force for the economic development of the DRC, with the professional skills, innovation capacity, financial resources and international relationships needed to support national transformation.
Building Businesses and Creating Durable Jobs
The colloquium placed productive investment and job creation at the centre of diaspora engagement.
This approach encourages Congolese abroad to participate in businesses that produce goods and services, expand local supply chains and employ Congolese workers. It also creates opportunities for joint ventures between diaspora investors and entrepreneurs who already understand the domestic market.
For small and medium-sized enterprises, these partnerships can bring more than finance. Diaspora professionals can provide technical support, management experience, access to technology, international standards and connections to customers or investors outside the country.
By combining local knowledge with global experience, Congolese entrepreneurs can build stronger companies and compete in larger markets.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of formalising economic activity, strengthening entrepreneurial capacity and expanding opportunities for young people and women.
Public-Private Partnerships Open a Path to Larger Projects
Minister Lukwebo presented public-private partnerships as an important mechanism for connecting government priorities with private capital and professional expertise.
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Through structured partnerships, public institutions, diaspora investors and local businesses can work together on projects serving the public interest. The sectors highlighted during the meeting included education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, culture, innovation and technology.
The event coverage published by La Cloche du Congo said participants worked across nine thematic groups examining innovation and technology, education and vocational training, health and social welfare, skills transfer, agriculture, governance, diplomacy, infrastructure and taxation.
This wide sectoral focus gives members of the diaspora several entry points. A doctor can support a health project, an engineer can contribute to infrastructure, a technology professional can help a local company modernise, and an entrepreneur can invest in production, services or agriculture.
Connecting the Diaspora With Congolese Entrepreneurs
DiaspoBoost 2026 also emphasised the need to create lasting bridges between Congolese abroad and business owners at home.
Local entrepreneurs bring market knowledge, community relationships and experience operating in the DRC. Diaspora partners can add capital, international expertise and access to wider networks. When these strengths are combined, investment projects can be better prepared, financed and managed.
The initiative aligns with the national vision of President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo and the development priorities supported in Kinshasa by Governor Daniel Bumba Lubaki. Minister Lukwebo said the ambition is to make the diaspora an active partner in the transformation of both the country and the capital.
The government's role is to help connect investors, entrepreneurs and institutions around projects capable of producing long-term economic value. The private sector contributes investment, business execution and innovation, while the diaspora can provide a bridge to global markets and specialised expertise.
Recommendations to Become a Practical Roadmap
The discussions produced recommendations from nine working groups. DiaspoBoost founder Stéphanie Kimbulu announced that the conclusions will be compiled into a reference document for institutions, partners and decision-makers.
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She also committed to maintaining the connections established during the colloquium and supporting the conversion of proposals into practical projects. The next phase will centre on project development, partnerships and investment mobilisation based on the ideas presented in Kinshasa.
Diaspora members were encouraged to participate in company creation, technology transfer, youth training and support for Congolese SMEs. Local entrepreneurs were also invited to strengthen professionalism, transparency, innovation and openness to partnerships.
One Congolese Economy, at Home and Abroad
The central message of DiaspoBoost 2026 is that distance does not separate Congolese people from the country's economic future.
The diaspora represents capital, knowledge, experience and global connections that can help accelerate development inside the DRC. At the same time, the country offers opportunities for Congolese abroad to invest in sectors that meet real needs and build a lasting economic legacy.
Transforming diaspora potential into businesses, infrastructure, technologies and employment can create benefits on both sides. Entrepreneurs in the DRC gain new partners, diaspora investors reconnect with national opportunities, and communities benefit from jobs, services and stronger local industries.
The Kinshasa appeal therefore carries a practical national message: Congolese skills and resources, wherever they are found in the world, can be mobilised to build Congo's future at home.
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