DRC Prime Minister Highlights Economic Potential and Calls for Regional Investment at Rome Summit
Visiting Rome on Friday, June 20, 2025, as part of the summit on the Mattei Plan and the Global Gateway, the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Judith Suminwa Tuluka, emphasized the country’s vast economic potential and urged increased investment to build an interconnected regional economy.
Accompanied by the Minister of Tourism, Didier M’Pambia, and the Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya, Prime Minister Suminwa reaffirmed Kinshasa’s commitment to the implementation of the Lobito Corridor project, a strategic transport axis linking the Atlantic Ocean to the major production basins of Central Africa.
A Catalyst for Regional Transformation
“The Democratic Republic of Congo aims to leverage this vital infrastructure project to create a development ecosystem for the entire sub-region,” declared Judith Suminwa.
She advocated for a growth model centered on an integrated transport network—comprising rail, road, river, and lake routes—designed especially to open up areas with significant agricultural potential around Lake Tanganyika.
In line with the Government’s Action Program (PAG 2024–2028), the Prime Minister stressed the importance of investing in infrastructure to support the development of local value chains.
“The integrated and sustainable development of the Lobito Corridor will also promote economic diversification, foster the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and industries (SMIs), and build a diversified industrial fabric—the foundation of sustainable and resilient development,” she said.
At a time when global powers are striving to secure critical resource supplies, the DRC is determined to capitalize on its geographical position, abundant natural resources, and regional ambitions to become a key logistics and industrial hub in Central Africa.
The message is clear: the DRC is not merely seeking funding but is offering a strategic vision of co-development centered on tangible projects like the Lobito Corridor.
