Kinshasa, July 2nd, 2025 (CPA). – The Democratic Republic of Congo has gained enormously in terms of capital exchange, technology transfer and economic development through its partnership with Japan, said the Minister of Industry in an interview with CPA on Wednesday. « The DRC is gaining enormously in terms of capital exchange and technology transfer. It also benefits in terms of economic development, job creation and, more broadly, repositioning itself among emerging economies. This is what we are reaping thanks to this partnership, » said Louis Watum, Minister in charge of Industry, on his return to Kinshasa from Tokyo, where he took part in Expo-Osaka in Japan. As part of this partnership, the immediate benefits are currently visible through the Kaizen initiative, which is being implemented at the National Institute for Professional Preparation (INPP) as part of vocational training. The signing of the memorandum of understanding during the Congolese delegation’s visit to Japan, concerning manganese mining in the province of Kongo Central, in the west of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is also one of the benefits, the minister said.
Good governance among the conditions required
On the Japanese side, the conditions required are no different from those required by any investor in the world. « They can be summed up in a few words: good governance and the eradication of corruption. And that depends solely on us, the Congolese. No one else will build this country for us. It is not bilateral cooperation that will build the DRC. It is the Congolese themselves, the sons and daughters of this country. It is up to us to show seriousness. It is up to us to ensure rigorous governance. It is up to us to fight corruption. This is not the business of a government made up of fifty members. It is the business of one hundred million Congolese. If we commit ourselves collectively, then we will succeed, » said the Minister of Industry. On this occasion, the Congolese delegation held discussions with the Japanese side. Japan has capital, technology and also knowledge of the Democratic Republic of the Congo dating back more than 50 years. « Remember the Maréchal Bridge (Oebk Bridge) and the Sodimiza mine, now Sodimico, in Haut-Katanga province. Remember also the many roads built as part of the cooperation. Japan is very much at home here, but also very active in the field of vocational training. This is really essential for the country, » he noted.
On this issue, the minister also mentioned the DRC’s subscription to a partnership under the Japanese initiative called ‘Kaizen,’ a Japanese term meaning productivity in the workplace, excellence in professional practice, and a culture of work well done. ‘This philosophy has enabled this island to become one of the world’s greatest economic powers,’ he said.
The DRC has joined this initiative in order to begin training young people in this spirit and to cooperate economically with Japan. A large delegation of government officials and experts from the Democratic Republic of Congo, led by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, participated in Expo-Osaka in Tokyo, Japan.