Reforms and resources put the Democratic Republic of Congo on investors’ radar

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is emerging as one of Africa’s most significant destinations for long-term investment in real assets.

With abundant natural resources, a strategic geographic position and a population exceeding 100 million, the DRC offers substantial potential across mining, energy, agriculture and infrastructure. Increasing attention from global investors reflects both the scale of its market and the country’s role in supplying key inputs for the global energy transition.

The DRC holds some of the world’s largest reserves of cobalt, copper, and lithium — minerals central to the clean-technology value chain. Beyond mining, its vast arable land and nearly half of Africa’s tropical forests position the country to develop competitive industries in sustainable agriculture, forestry and nature-based carbon projects. For investors focused on renewable energy and strategic resilience, the DRC’s estimated hydroelectric potential — over 100,000 MW, roughly a third of Africa’s total — offers major scope for projects in power generation and grid infrastructure.

These opportunities are increasingly supported by institutional initiatives and policy reform. Based on the vision of its president, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, the DRC aims to become a high-income country that is a global leader in thought and expertise by 2050. This vision is based on four strategic pillars: human capital, governance, sustainable economic growth and an inclusive development society.

The National Agency for Investment Promotion (ANAPI) facilitates investor engagement and guides projects through administrative procedures, while government-backed incentives and infrastructure programmes aim to improve market access and operational conditions. Emerging investment corridors and regional partnerships further strengthen the DRC’s role as a link between central, north and southern African markets.

“At ANAPI, our mission is to align investment promotion with the national development vision that positions the Democratic Republic of Congo as a diversified and forward-looking economy,” Rachel Pungu Luamba, managing director of ANAPI, told Real FDI during the World Investment Conference in Sharjah, UAE, in mid-October 2025. During the event ANAPI was presented with an Investment Excellence Award from the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies.

“This diversification is centered on adding value to our natural resources and opening opportunities in emerging and high-growth sectors. With a strengthened legal and regulatory framework, the DRC now offers investors a more secure, transparent and attractive environment for long-term investment,” she added.

An enhanced legal framework including a law on public private partnerships (PPPs) should help facilitate institutional investment into the country’s pipeline of priority projects, along with the creation of a PPP Coordination Unit. The country’s special economic zones also offer attractive incentives for investors.

Economic and governance reforms remain ongoing, and investors continue to navigate a complex operating environment. However, the direction of policy is toward greater stability, transparency and sustainability. For investors with a forward-looking perspective, the combination of resource depth, market scale and reform momentum positions the DRC as one of Africa’s most compelling frontiers for sustainable investment and value creation.