By Ayomide Otitoju
The organisers of the DRC Mining Week Expo and Conference have welcomed the recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Fonds de Promotion de l’Industrie (FIP) in Cape Town.
VUKA Group, organisers of the annual mining event held in Lubumbashi each June, described the agreement as a significant step toward strengthening regional collaboration. The group said the partnership reflects a commitment to building a broader mining community across the Southern African Development Community (SADC), while promoting economic growth and sustainable development across the continent.
According to the IDC, the MoU—its first with the Congolese institution—is designed to enhance cooperation in areas of shared economic interest between South Africa and the DRC, with expected benefits for the wider region.
Samukelo Madlabane, Events Director for Mining at VUKA Group, said closer cooperation between both countries is a strategic and logical move, particularly in the mining sector. He noted that while the DRC possesses vast mineral reserves, South Africa offers decades of mining expertise, advanced technology, and well-established financial systems to support cross-border investments.
Madlabane added that both countries share a long-standing history in mining and natural resource development, underpinned by strong agricultural and extractive traditions.
Highlighting the role of the DRC Mining Week over the past two decades, he said the event has fostered collaboration across the mining value chain, bringing together industry players in the Copperbelt region. He noted that several South African technology providers, service companies, and developers have maintained a strong presence at the event, forming lasting partnerships and business ventures in the DRC.
The organisers said they plan to provide a platform at this year’s event for the IDC and FIP to present updates on the MoU’s implementation, including progress on establishing a framework for joint investments, project development, and broader economic cooperation.
