KINSHASA — September 8, 2026 — Congolese businesses, entrepreneurs and diaspora investors are being invited to prepare bankable projects for the UK–DRC Economic Forum, scheduled to take place in London from November 2–4, 2026.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo formally began preparations for the gathering during a pre-launch event in Kinshasa on September 8. External Trade Minister Julien Paluku Kahongya called on Congolese economic operators to register in large numbers, with particular encouragement directed toward young people and women entrepreneurs.
The forum is intended to connect Congolese companies with British investors, businesses and institutions through direct commercial meetings. Organizers say the programme will include business-to-business and business-to-government discussions designed to produce partnerships and memoranda of understanding.
Read the September 8 forum announcement
Congo asks businesses to bring investment-ready projects
The government wants Congolese participants to arrive in London with projects that investors can evaluate rather than general descriptions of business ideas.
That means participating companies will need to explain the opportunity they are presenting, the capital or technical partnership required, the intended market and how the project can generate revenue and operate sustainably.
Energy, road infrastructure, commerce and youth skills development have been identified among the forum's priority areas. Earlier preparatory discussions also highlighted agriculture, mining, environmental projects and the promotion of products made in the DRC.
Baroness Sandip Verma, a member of the British House of Lords and president of the UK–DRC Business Partnership Consortium, has invited businesses, investors, institutions, government representatives, diaspora members, entrepreneurs and professionals to express interest in participating.
She said the gathering would bring together decision-makers, investors, business leaders, public institutions and academics to examine viable projects and develop long-term partnerships.
ECONOMIC POLICIES
UK–DRC Forum Opens London Opportunity for Congolese Firms
Sep 8, 2026
Sep 8, 2026
5 min read
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KINSHASA — September 8, 2026 — Congolese businesses, entrepreneurs and diaspora investors are being invited to prepare bankable projects for the UK–DRC Economic Forum, scheduled to take place in London from November 2–4, 2026.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo formally began preparations for the gathering during a pre-launch event in Kinshasa on September 8. External Trade Minister Julien Paluku Kahongya called on Congolese economic operators to register in large numbers, with particular encouragement directed toward young people and women entrepreneurs.
The forum is intended to connect Congolese companies with British investors, businesses and institutions through direct commercial meetings. Organizers say the programme will include business-to-business and business-to-government discussions designed to produce partnerships and memoranda of understanding.
Read the September 8 forum announcement
Congo asks businesses to bring investment-ready projects
The government wants Congolese participants to arrive in London with projects that investors can evaluate rather than general descriptions of business ideas.
That means participating companies will need to explain the opportunity they are presenting, the capital or technical partnership required, the intended market and how the project can generate revenue and operate sustainably.
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Energy, road infrastructure, commerce and youth skills development have been identified among the forum's priority areas. Earlier preparatory discussions also highlighted agriculture, mining, environmental projects and the promotion of products made in the DRC.
Baroness Sandip Verma, a member of the British House of Lords and president of the UK–DRC Business Partnership Consortium, has invited businesses, investors, institutions, government representatives, diaspora members, entrepreneurs and professionals to express interest in participating.
She said the gathering would bring together decision-makers, investors, business leaders, public institutions and academics to examine viable projects and develop long-term partnerships.
Forum builds on the new UK–DRC Chamber of Commerce
The London event follows the launch of the UK–DRC Chamber of Commerce in Kinshasa in March 2026.
The British government described the chamber as a platform for strengthening commercial ties and helping British and Congolese businesses trade and invest together. During the same period, the United Kingdom announced new economic initiatives involving finance for Congolese businesses, clean energy and agriculture.
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These included a $25 million British International Investment loan to Rawbank aimed at expanding financing for small and medium-sized enterprises and non-mining companies. The United Kingdom also announced support for clean-energy investment and climate-smart agribusiness.
Read the UK government's announcement on trade and investment cooperation with the DRC
The DRC Ministry of External Trade says the commercial framework between the two countries allows 99.8% of Congolese products, including coffee, cocoa and spices, to enter the British market without customs duties. The government wants Congolese producers to make greater use of this access while improving compliance with British quality, traceability and product standards.
Read the DRC Ministry of External Trade's UK–DRC Chamber announcement
Bilateral trade remains small despite the opportunity
Official British figures show why both sides are seeking a larger commercial relationship.
Total trade in goods and services between the United Kingdom and the DRC reached £145 million in the four quarters ending in March 2026, according to the UK Department for Business and Trade. British exports to the DRC represented £105 million, while imports from the DRC stood at £40 million.
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The DRC ranked as the United Kingdom's 141st-largest trading partner during that period and accounted for less than 0.1% of total British trade.
Those figures indicate that the economic relationship remains limited compared with the DRC's population, natural resources and investment needs. The London forum is therefore an opportunity to move from diplomatic commitments toward measurable trade, financing and project agreements.
View the official UK–DRC trade and investment factsheet
What Congolese companies should prepare
Businesses interested in participating should begin developing a concise investor package containing:
A clear description of the company and its ownership
Registration and compliance documents
The problem the proposed project will solve
The amount and type of financing required
Revenue forecasts and evidence of customer demand
Existing assets, licences or commercial agreements
The proposed role of the British partner
Expected employment and economic impact in the DRC
A practical implementation schedule
Companies seeking export opportunities should also prepare product samples, production-capacity figures, pricing, certification records and information showing their ability to meet British standards consistently.
A preparatory committee is expected to support the Congolese delegation and help facilitate visa procedures for approved participants. The government has separately requested the establishment of a British visa-processing office in Kinshasa and advocated for a direct London–Kinshasa air connection, particularly for cargo.
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