U.S. Praises Tshisekedi Reforms, Positions Congo as Investment Hub

Kinshasa, Sept 2025, The latest U.S. State Department Investment Climate Statement highlights the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as one of Africa’s most promising economic frontiers, praising reforms and growth under the leadership of President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo.

Strong Economic Growth

The report notes that Congo’s economy grew 7.9% in 2024, one of the highest rates in Africa, driven by the responsible management of the mining sector and the government’s push to diversify into agriculture, infrastructure, and energy. Even with global slowdowns, the DRC remains among the continent’s fastest-growing economies.

Rising Investment Confidence

Foreign direct investment surged 18% in 2023, reaching $1.67 billion, with strong inflows into mining, energy, and infrastructure. The U.S., EU, and Gulf partners are becoming increasingly active in the Congo, reflecting growing international confidence in Kinshasa’s reforms.

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One flagship project, the Lobito Corridor railway, backed by more than half a billion dollars in U.S. financing, was praised as a strategic example of how Congo is opening new gateways for trade, minerals, and regional integration.

Business-Friendly Reforms

President Tshisekedi’s government established the Business Climate Cell, a reform unit tasked with modernizing regulations, improving transparency, and simplifying investment procedures. These reforms are reshaping Congo’s image from a challenging market into a land of opportunity.

The government also committed 10% of the national budget to agriculture, marking the strongest push in decades to diversify the economy and ensure food security while attracting private agribusiness investment.

A Strategic Nation at the Heart of Africa

The report underscores Congo’s unmatched potential:

• Minerals critical for the global green transition, cobalt, copper, lithium, and more.

• Hydropower and renewable energy with continental reach.

• A young, dynamic population ready to power Africa’s next growth story.