Kinshasa, January 25th of 2027.

The Minister of National Economy has announced today, a new economic program for the DRC; going non-stop constantly, the Minister frankly looks exhausted. The projects heeded by Katumbi were frequent and non-stop. Arduous monthly reviews, reports, staff calling and asking for advice, it was all a Sisyphean duty, but still, there was the Minister, with that tired look on his face.

As the Congolese economy grows in massive proportions – such as a 19% increase in our GDP in 2027 – so does our investments in the industries that provide that growth and allows us to adequately export our products and develop our nation. One of these industries is, for instance, the capability to develop and produce new ships as to increase our capacity of exports and become a major economic center in Africa.

Along with that, there are many other industries which have been very promising for the DRC, such as shoe tanning and pharmaceutics, who are a necessity all over Africa and could be useful for many projects – NGOs in the DRC have already pointed out that the rise of a pharma industry in the Congo could allow for affordable medication for the impoverished Congolese and many more Africans all over the continent, including the war-torn Central African Republic.

As he talked more and more about the economic plans of the DRC, he finally unveiled another economic stimulus program that can provide countless opportunities for further investment and growth in the DRC; the plan is simply known as the “Congolese Investment Plan 2027”.

The Investment Plan

The economic plan itself, while fairly comprehensive, is quite simple in and of itself. It is composed of a funding service which is similar to the previous economic investment plans in the Katumbi administration and follows the same processes; it invests in the following areas:

• US$200 mn influx of funding into ship building capabilities at Matadi for big ships, this includes new equipment, modernizations, staff training, all of the necessary funding for the development of a capable manufactory for ships.
• US$150 mn influx of funding into ship building capabilities at Muanda for medium-sized ships, this includes new equipment, modernizations, staff training, all of the necessary funding for the development of a capable manufactory for ships.
• US$50 mn influx of funding into ship building capabilities at Boma for small-sized boats, such as fishing boats.
• US$100 mn into pharmaceutical plants near Mbuji-Mayi – this will function essentially, as subsidization for the encouragement of a new pharmaceutical industry in the Congo, and will include a five-year tax suspension.
• US$300 mn into a glass manufacturing plant in Lodja.
• US$75 mn into a furniture factory in Buta.
• US$125 mn for a tannery and shoe production facility in Gemena.

Economists in the DRC have praised this economic investment plan, especially because of how comprehensive it is; the Ministry of National Economy has been praised on national media for it, although the opposition has criticized it. Some of the opposition remarks about the fact that there are comprehensive programs still to be done to increase the living standards of Congolese all over the nation, but the Ministry offered no reply.