Rwanda’s Premier Anastase Murekezi (extreme right)
Leading regional business representatives have gathered in DRC’s capital Kinshasa to share their first hand experiences at a Private Sector Investment Conference.
The Great Lakes Region considered among the world’s dangerous spots, aims at proving its potential in; investment, financing options and how its handling of evolving risks and the security situation.
“Now is a chance to pave the way for lasting peace and inclusive development in the Great Lakes region of Africa,” said Ban Ki-moon.
DRC President, Joseph Kabila, officially opened the two-day conference on Wednesday, in the presence of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and other heads of different governments.
Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi led a delegation from Rwanda to attend the conference organised by the DRC government, the Office of the Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General for the Great Lakes region (OSESG-GL) and the Executive Secretariat of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
The conference provides opportunities of networking among participants with a view to shaping new ventures and an ever more conducive business climate.
“We’re determined to work with African governments and the private sector to build the new era of peace, stability and prosperity,” said Jim Yong Kim, World Bank Group President.
Since July of 2011, the Word Bank has committed nearly $2 billion in private sector projects across 11 countries in the Great Lakes Region.
Over 30 mega projects have been established in the region to develop sectors including; transport infrastructure, methane gas extraction, electricity, advanced grain storage, banking, ICT, tourism and others.
For example Rwanda has benefited from projects including the $900 million Rwanda-DRC Lake Kivu methane gas development, $454,000 ABSA-SAB Miller DRG Grains project and the Rwanda bonded warehouse facility.
Some of other massive projects in the region include; the Uganda oil refinery, Angola-Lobito corridor, ICGLR development bank, South Sudan Nzara agro-industrial complex, Kisumu port and other lake Victoria ports, CEPGL maize value chain and the Central African Backbone (CAB5) Program Project.
At the conference, participants expect specific information about a selection of the most lucrative investment opportunities across seven sectors including; Energy, Mining, Agriculture, Tourism, Infrastructure, Telecommunications and Finance.
Storage facility above: Rwanda has developed improved trade logistics across the country such as storage facilities for cargo, parking facilities, repair and maintenance facilities.
The conference has attracted representatives from the most successful businesses in the region and project sponsors; leaders from the regional governments and key development partners, international investors, operators and financiers.
