ARSP Seeks UK Investment to Support DRC Businesses and Local Content
ARSP Calls for Energy and Infrastructure Investment to Strengthen Congolese Businesses
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s private-sector subcontracting regulator, ARSP, has called for greater investment in electricity and transport infrastructure to help Congolese businesses expand and participate more effectively in the economy.
Speaking at the DRC–United Kingdom Economic Forum in London, ARSP Director General Ted Beleshayi said reliable power, better transport links and a predictable business environment were essential to strengthening domestic entrepreneurship.
His intervention placed the needs of Congolese enterprises alongside efforts to attract foreign capital, emphasising that investment should create conditions in which local businesses can grow.
Infrastructure as a foundation for business growth
Beleshayi identified electricity and transport connections as priorities for unlocking commercial opportunities across the DRC.
He said improved access to these services would enable Congolese entrepreneurs to trade more effectively and contribute to national wealth creation.
On energy, he highlighted the country’s hydroelectric potential and growing private investment in electricity distribution, while acknowledging that infrastructure development remained a challenge.
He also pointed to road construction and rehabilitation programmes intended to connect provinces and improve domestic trade.
For ARSP, these investments are relevant to the development of a stronger national business base capable of accessing opportunities within major companies’ supply chains.
Predictability matters to investors
Beleshayi said attracting capital required more than promoting the country’s natural resources. Investors also needed sufficient certainty to estimate returns, prepare business plans and make commitments to lenders.
He credited Government efforts to simplify procedures and improve policy visibility with increasing interest in the DRC.
At the same time, his appeal underscored the importance of translating that interest into infrastructure that serves productive businesses.
The forum, held from 2 to 4 November 2026, sought to strengthen DRC–UK trade and investment relations and turn discussions into bankable projects.
