Over 250 delegates, including government ministers, business executives, and representatives of financial institutions, are expected to convene in Kinshasa on Friday, November 14, for a high-level meeting on regional economic cooperation in the Great Lakes region.
The event, titled “The Great Lakes in Action: Economic Integration for Lasting Peace – Success Stories,” will take place on the sidelines of the 9th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
It will be held under the patronage of President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Organised by the Ministry of Regional Integration in collaboration with the Public-Private Partnership Council and Coordination Unit (UC-PPP), the meeting aims to put economic diplomacy at the center of regional stability and integration efforts.
Discussions will focus on developing cross-border infrastructure, improving access to energy, and boosting agricultural productivity — sectors viewed as key to unlocking sustainable growth and peace across the region.
Officials said the forum will highlight a range of flagship infrastructure initiatives.
Among them are the Lobito Corridor, which links the DRC, Zambia, and Angola to the Atlantic Ocean; the Tanzania–Burundi–DRC railway project, supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the East African Community (EAC); and the DRC–Uganda road corridor, a project designed to ease cross-border trade and spur investment.
A lineup of senior regional and international figures is expected, including Angolan Foreign Affairs Minister Téte António, World Bank Country Director Albert Zeufack, DRC Urban Planning Minister Alexis Gisaro, External Trade Minister Julien Paluku, and UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region Xia Huang.
Also attending are representatives from the African Union, European Union, EAC, and major development partners such as AFD and the AfDB. During the meeting, organisers will launch a regional digital platform to monitor the implementation of integration projects in real time.
The platform will track progress, improve coordination among member states, and promote transparency between public institutions and private investors.
“Our region can only consolidate peace if it creates the conditions for shared prosperity,” said Floribert Anzuluni Isiloketshi, the DRC’s Minister of Regional Integration.
“There can be no lasting stability without economic integration, without roads that connect, without energy that powers, and without trade that builds trust.”
The gathering comes as the DRC continues to chair the ICGLR, reinforcing its role in advancing economic cooperation as a foundation for lasting peace and shared development across Central and East Africa.
