DRC: A 2027 Draft Budget of USD 24.8 Billion, Up 12%
On September 15, 2026, Prime Minister Judith Suminwa submitted the 2027 Finance Bill to the National Assembly. Set at CDF 56,929 billion (USD 24.8 billion), with revenue and expenditure in balance, it represents an increase of approximately 12% compared with the 2026 amended Finance Act. The bill provides for USD 17.5 billion in current revenue, a tax-to-GDP ratio of 12.8%, and nearly USD 4 billion in external revenue, including support from technical and financial partners. Priorities include security, infrastructure, social sectors, and economic diversification, with an emphasis on fiscal discipline.
DRC: A New Framework to Facilitate the Financing of Railway Equipment
The Luxembourg Rail Protocol will enter into force in the DRC on October 1, 2026. By joining this framework under the Cape Town Convention, the country becomes part of an international legal regime designed to facilitate security interests in and financing for railway rolling stock. The mechanism could notably improve access to credit and reduce its cost. This development comes as the DRC seeks to strengthen its transport infrastructure and integration into regional corridors, particularly the Lobito Corridor. The key question will now be whether this new legal framework can mobilize concrete financing to modernize the Congolese rail network and rolling stock.
DRC–United Arab Emirates: Etihad Airways to Launch Two Direct Routes in March 2027
On September 18, 2026, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways agreed to launch two direct air routes from March 2027, linking Abu Dhabi with Kinshasa and Lubumbashi. The new services are intended to strengthen the DRC's international connectivity and position Kinshasa as a regional aviation hub in Central Africa. The agreement comes amid deepening economic and strategic ties between the DRC and the United Arab Emirates. The two countries are already developing several partnerships, notably in energy, security, and transport infrastructure, including the Banana deep-water port project.
Inclusive Finance: New Opportunities for Congolese Companies Meeting 2X Programme Criteria
British International Investment (BII) is strengthening its gender-smart finance ambition, with a target of allocating 30% of its new core investments under its 2026–2031 strategy to transactions that meet the criteria of the 2X Challenge, an international initiative promoting women's economic empowerment. This development is part of a broader trend: several development finance institutions (DFIs), including Proparco and BIO Invest, have reaffirmed their commitment to the 2X Challenge, which aims to mobilize an additional USD 20 billion between 2024 and 2027. For Congolese companies—particularly those led by women, employing significant numbers of women, or developing products and services that benefit women—alignment with 2X criteria could therefore provide an additional pathway to financing and investment opportunities supported by DFIs.
Mining: KoBold Metals Helps Open Up the DRC's Geological Data
The U.S. company KoBold Metals, backed in part by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, has already digitized nearly 300,000 pages of geoscientific archives held at the University of Lubumbashi under a partnership with the institution. A major issue is now the accessibility of this information: KoBold has committed, alongside the Congolese government, to promoting free public access to geological data, particularly through the National Geological Service of Congo (SGN-C), which is expected to play a central role in archiving, validating, and disseminating it. Greater availability of geoscientific data could help reduce the risks and costs associated with the early stages of mineral exploration while improving the DRC's attractiveness to new investors. This initiative could therefore progressively strengthen the data infrastructure needed for the development and diversification of the Congolese mining sector. The data are available at https://rdc.rocks/archive
Artificial Intelligence: Claude Is Now Officially Available in the DRC
On September 22, 2026, the Congolese Ministry of Digital Economy announced Claude's official availability in the DRC. Anthropic's artificial intelligence assistant can now be accessed through both Claude.ai and its commercial API. Previously absent from the list of officially supported countries, the DRC faced access restrictions that led some users to rely on workarounds, a situation highlighted by the local "Claude for DRC" initiative. This opening should particularly benefit students, researchers, developers, startups, companies, and public institutions, while also raising issues related to data protection and copyright compliance. Claude's official arrival broadens the range of artificial intelligence tools available in the DRC and could support the development of new uses and services within the country's technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Eggs for Congo: 3.2 Million Chicks per Year and Plans to Expand into Greater Katanga
Inaugurated on September 19, 2026, in Mbenzale (N'Sele) by Minister of Fisheries and Livestock Jean-Pierre Tshimanga Buana, this modern, financed hatchery—created through a public-private partnership with the state—produces 3.2 million day-old chicks per year and plans to double production from 2027. The ceremony took place in the presence of representatives of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Dutch partner companies involved in the project, including Hendrix Genetics, Vetworks, and Petersime. After Kinshasa, the ambition is now to expand the project into Greater Katanga, the country's second-largest demographic and economic hub.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
LuxDev: Up to €300,000 in Co-financing for Impact Projects in the DRC
Purpose: The BPF's second 2026 call for projects offers co-financing of up to €300,000 for innovative, positive-impact initiatives developed in partnership with a company established in Luxembourg or the European Union.
Deadline: October 31, 2026
Target profile: Congolese companies and organizations from various sectors—excluding mining, extractive industries, and non-renewable energy—with projects combining innovation, economic viability, and a contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
ARSP: Several Mining Contracts Open to Congolese Companies
Organization: Regulatory Authority for Subcontracting in the Private Sector (ARSP)
Type: Calls for tenders / Subcontracting opportunities
Purpose: Several contracts are currently open with Kamoa Copper, Kibali Gold, Mutanda Mining, and COMMUS, notably in civil engineering, industrial maintenance, drilling, mining studies, and concession transfers.
Period: September 25 to October 6, 2026, depending on the contract concerned.
Target profile: Congolese companies active in construction, engineering, industrial maintenance, drilling, and mining services that meet applicable subcontracting requirements.
DRC: Recruitment of a Firm to Monitor and Supervise Construction of the National Fibre-Optic Backbone
Organization: World Bank (IDA) / French Development Agency (AFD) – Digital Transformation Project Management Unit (UGP-PTN), Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications
Type: Request for expressions of interest / Selection of a consulting firm
Purpose: Technical assistance to monitor and supervise construction of the national fibre-optic backbone network, covering approximately 11,600 km divided into four geographical lots, under the Digital Transformation Project (PTN), supported by USD 400 million in World Bank financing and €100 million from AFD.
Deadline: October 14, 2026
Target profile: Consulting firms with proven expertise in technical monitoring and supervision of telecommunications and fibre-optic works, PPP project management, and application of the World Bank's environmental and social standards.
Status: Expression of interest open. The assignment is expected to begin in June 2027 and last approximately 40 months.
Manager Finance Facility: DRC Eligible for Funding Support
The Democratic Republic of Congo is eligible for the Manager Finance Facility (MFF), a funding initiative launched by FSD Africa in partnership with FMO and supported by the UK Government. The facility targets emerging fund managers and Alternative Local Capital Providers developing innovative financing solutions for small and growing businesses. Eligible managers can access up to USD 500,000 in Piloting Capital to test investment models and build a track record, as well as up to USD 150,000 in Operational Capital to strengthen teams, governance, compliance and fundraising capabilities. The MFF particularly supports innovative financing approaches, including revenue-based finance, flexible equity, venture debt and blended finance, with an emphasis on climate-smart and gender-smart strategies. For fund managers operating in the DRC, applications are open on a rolling basis until March 2028.
Cross-Border Payments: The DRC Joins the Pan-African PAPSS System
The Central Bank of the Congo (BCC) officially joined the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) following an agreement signed in Nairobi on September 18, 2026. This accession marks a new step in the DRC's financial integration into African markets. PAPSS facilitates cross-border payments in local currencies, reducing dependence on international correspondent banks and potentially lowering the cost and processing time of intra-African transactions. For Congolese companies, its rollout could simplify settlements with African customers and suppliers and support trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The next step will be the system's operational implementation and the progressive connection of Congolese banks and other financial institutions—essential conditions for translating this integration into tangible benefits for businesses and regional trade.
Electric Mobility: China's BYD Explores Investment Opportunities in the DRC
The DRC could take a new step in developing electric mobility and innovative energy solutions. On September 10, 2026, the National Agency for Investment Promotion (ANAPI) met with a delegation from the Chinese group BYD to discuss several potential investment projects in the country. Discussions notably covered the introduction of electric buses, local assembly of electric vehicles, battery manufacturing and assembly, and the development of energy storage and generation solutions. For the DRC, a potential BYD presence could foster the emergence of a local electric-mobility ecosystem, generating opportunities in assembly, charging infrastructure, maintenance, technical training, logistics, and energy services. ANAPI stated that it was ready to support the group in its procedures and facilitate its interactions with the relevant institutions. At this stage, no investment amount, timetable, or industrial capacity has been announced.
REGULATORY WATCH
The Government Launches a Package of Reforms to Strengthen Investor Confidence
At its meeting on September 11, 2026, the Council of Ministers adopted four structural reforms for the business environment. First, the creation of BDI-RDC, the DRC Infrastructure Development Bank, is intended to improve the bankability of infrastructure projects and mobilize long-term private capital, while FGADEC, the DRC Deposit Guarantee Fund, will strengthen depositor protection and banking-system stability. The Congolese government also established the DRC–USA Task Force—an inter-institutional structure to steer the strategic partnership between the two countries—with a mandate to identify, structure, and present bankable infrastructure and natural-resource projects to investors. Finally, a new legal framework for the carbon market was approved to enable the DRC to capitalize on its forest potential and attract international green finance. Through these reforms, the Congolese government aims to strengthen the country's financial and regulatory architecture in a coordinated manner.
FOCUS DRC INSIGHT
FAO: USD 1.23 Billion in Agri-Food Investments Identified
The FAO is presenting five investment projects in the DRC as part of its 2026 Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum. The portfolio totals USD 1.2337 billion and covers maize, coffee, poultry, cocoa, and aquaculture. The projects are structured around two axes: the Lobito Corridor for maize, poultry, and aquaculture, and the Green Corridor for cocoa and coffee. The FAO presents these operations as opportunities designed to mobilize public and private capital. They are therefore not immediately open calls for tenders, but rather a structured investment pipeline with significant potential for agribusiness, local processing, logistics, and export value chains.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The 12th Edition of Expo Béton DRC Will Be Held in Kinshasa from October 7 to 10, 2026
Focused on the transformation and modernization of Congolese cities, this international trade fair will bring together public decision-makers, construction companies, architects, and donors to stimulate investment, promote new construction technologies, and forge strategic partnerships for the country's urban development.
SEIC 2026: Kinshasa Hosts Its First Entrepreneurship and Innovation Fair
Organized by Praxis Communication DRC, the Congo Entrepreneurship and Innovation Fair (SEIC) will hold its first edition on October 21 and 22, 2026, at the Hilton Kinshasa. The event will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, financial institutions, public authorities, and development partners for conferences, workshops, panels, pitch sessions, and an Innovation Hub. Its objective is to facilitate access to financing, promote innovation, and foster partnerships and business opportunities in the DRC.
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