Kinshasa, July 1st, 2025 (CPA).- Entrepreneurial opportunities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly in the agricultural sector, were explained by an businessman and former municipal education officer in France, in an interview with CPA on Tuesday in Kinshasa, the country’s capital. ‘There are so many opportunities for entrepreneurship in our country. I advise young people not to hesitate to seize the various opportunities available in low-competition markets, even those where you can start from scratch. For example, since 2021, I have been involved in an agricultural project in the provinces of Kwango and Kwilu (south-west DRC), where we mainly grow manioc and everything is going very well’, has said Abel Lemba Diyangi, an agricultural entrepreneur.
He has also shared his efficient time management method, which he says has enabled him to optimise his activities and accelerate the growth of his business, noting that natural resources such as fruit stones can be turned into orchards at low cost. ‘Entrepreneurship is within everyone’s grasp. It’s up to us to explore the possibilities and opportunities offered by our environment’, he has indicated. To motivate young people to become entrepreneurs, Mr Lemba spoke in particular of export successes, such as selling products internationally, underlining Congo’s enormous commercial potential with regard to the willingness of foreign powers to come and invest in the country. ‘I invite you to take ownership of your country, of its advantages, by preparing for the arrival of foreign investors, given the recent peace agreement between Rwanda and DRC through Washington. Let’s do our best to be at the forefront when employment or investment opportunities arise’, he has encouraged.
Entrepreneurs encouraged aspiring to roles in local government
After several years in Europe, Mr Lemba, a former municipal officer in France of Congolese origin, chose to return home to contribute to local development. He has also urged all Congolese ‘whether craftsmen, entrepreneurs or employees, to aspire one day to play an active role in the political life of their municipality once they have succeeded in business’. He has pointed out that many entrepreneurs define and maintain that politics is like the extension of business on a technical level, before explaining the difference between vertical and horizontal power, stressing the importance of the participation of elected representatives in communal decision-making.
Mr Lemba embodies a new generation of Congolese entrepreneurs who live abroad but are determined to transform their country through innovation and social responsibility. ‘My commitment to the development of the Congo is also reflected in innovative initiatives, such as the Context AI (Artificial Intelligence) platform, which aims to promote this tool in the country’, by training Congolese students in new information and communication technologies (NICT). He has also expressed his openness to the idea of growing vines and producing wine in the near future in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), his home country, proving that business opportunities are as diverse as they are creative. CPA/