The ARSP, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Regulatory Authority for Subcontracting in the Private Sector, underscored major opportunities for market-solutions, driven by Canada’s private sector, at the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business VIP reception, held during PDAC – the annual convention in Toronto attended by approximately 24,000 mining industry delegates.
Prudence Djamboleka – Founder and Director of the DRC Outsourcing SME Yearly Fair – noted the following: “With the strategic vision of the Regularization Authority to promote Congolese small and medium enterprises (SME), companies of all sizes and sectors are invited to take advantage of the opportunities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on top of the already significant investments underway – alongside major trade opportunities.”
Speaking on behalf of the DRC delegation, Djamboleka added that the private sector investment and trade agenda “aligns with the message of His Excellency, President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi on the need to create a middle class in the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
Presidential representatives and DRC business leaders were welcomed by Canadian executives and investors. The case for the DRC was set out by Mr. Rock Bashala Kubindia of the Business Climate Unit in the Presidency as well as President Félix Tshisekedi’s newly-appointed Director General of the Congolese Council for Battery, Denis Lecouturier.
“Given the endowment in the country, it is no surprise the keynote speaker address at the world’s largest Africa-focused mining event earlier today was the DRC,” said Bruce Shapiro, a founder of MineAfrica Inc. and President Emeritus of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business, who hosted the 24th Annual African Mining Breakfast in the hours preceding the VIP reception. “We have seen over many years – in the case of Ivanhoe Mines – how a Canadian company can have a presence and partnership in the DRC to the benefit of all,” he added.
Chamber President Garreth Bloor commended businesses in both Canada and the DRC: “Following today’s program at PDAC in which the country took centre stage – I applaud and encourage the hundreds with us in-person as well as all investors who joined the livebroadcast, provided by 6ix.com.”
Goodmans LLP, a top law firm who have supported the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business, hosted the reception at their offices in the heart of Toronto’s Financial District. Randy McAuley, a leader in business law and partner at Goodmans LLP, said he was proud of the firm’s nearly 30-year association with the Chamber, while looking forward to a long and fruitful future to come – supporting and accelerating trade and investment through world-class networking and information-sharing events.
Next Steps – Join us in October at ‘Africa Accelerating’
From 10 to 12 October 2023, the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business looks forward to welcoming African business leaders and entrepreneurs to Canada once again.
This year, the DRC’s Elephant Trade, who provide technical support in engineering, construction, and maintenance, have taken the lead as the first major sponsor of the annual 3-day forum. In recent years, Africa Accelerating has been opened by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and joined by African private and public sector leaders, who meet Canadian business executives.
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