American, British, and Congolese government officials launched major foreign direct investments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Article continues below
American, British, and Congolese government officials launched major foreign direct investments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with the groundbreaking of a USD 50 million Pepsi bottling plant and a Congo Petrol fuel depot.
Inaugurating Kiswishi City Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the first private SEZ in DRC, the officials also commenced construction on a One-Stop Shop for expedited government services for investors.
The investments at Kiswishi City SEZ will create thousands of jobs and expand the brands of New York-based PepsiCo in the fast-growing Haut-Katanga Province.
Developed by India's Varun Beverages, Pepsi's largest bottler outside the United States, the facility sits on 15 hectares (37 acres) of land at Kiswishi City SEZ.
Congo Petrol, a distributor and licensee of Kenya's Dalbit Petroleum, will develop a state-of-the-art 8,000 cubic metre petroleum products storage and warehousing facility sitting on seven hectares (17 acres), enhancing its capacity to efficiently serve the growing demand in the region.
Backed by American, British, New Zealand and Norwegian investors, Kiswishi City SEZ is a project by Rendeavour, Africa's new city builder, whose mixed-use cities in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia and DRC have catalysed billions of dollars in foreign and domestic investment, along with tens of thousands of jobs for young Africans.
Dignitaries in attendance included: Lucy Tamlyn, U.S. Ambassador to DRC, Alyson King, UK Ambassador to DRC, Prof. Jean-Marie Kanda, Senior Advisor to the President of DRC, John Muloba, Haut-Katanga Minister of Industry; Calvin Bailey, UK Trade Envoy for Southern Africa and Member of Parliament; Ritchie Callaghan, UK Honorary Consul, Lubumbashi; Hypolite Magogo, Deputy Director General, Special Economic Zones Agency; Vishal Gupta, Managing Director, Varun Beverages; Collins Kiprop, Country Manager, Congo Petrol; and Senator Jean Bamanisa Saidi, Chairman, Club BTP & CMA.
Businesses at Kiswishi City SEZ, the first private SEZ in DRC, also include Queen Energy, Zindua Investment, SDG Afrique, Congo Mineral Services, and Congolese Analytical Laboratory. Phase one of Kiswishi's residential estate, Kimia, is 98% sold out.
The One-Stop Shop, which will be managed by the Special Economic Zones Agency, ensures that investors can receive government services in one convenient location. ■