Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the second-largest nation in sub-Saharan Africa, with a rapidly growing population of more than 100 million. The DRC is endowed with exceptional natural resources, including mineral deposits of copper, cobalt, diamonds and gold; significant hydroelectric capacity; extensive fertile land; rich biodiversity, and the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest. Its strategic location in the heart of Africa contributes to making it a potentially attractive destination for foreign investors. 

Despite these strengths, the country is still recovering from a series of civil wars that broke out in the 1990s and claimed up to six million lives. Economic development remains hampered by instability, violence, and weak rule of law. Inadequate transport, energy and telecommunications infrastructure, and poverty rates among the highest in the world, further restrict the nation’s ability to reach its full socio-economic potential.