Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has undertaken to establish economic zones in North Kivu Province after Kenyan investors showed strong interest in its huge potential.
North Kivu Governor Constant Kongba Ndima disclosed this when he opened the penultimate leg of the Kenya DRC Trade Mission in Goma, Eastern DRC.  “The North Kivu province is building a conducive environment for the private sector to thrive. It has earmarked economic zones in territories in North Kivu under the policy of industrialisation,” said Ndima (pictured). 
He said the trade mission, organised by the governments of DRC and Kenya in collaboration with Equity Group is a forum that reflects commitment to support entrepreneurs at a time when the country is also seeking foreign direct investments.  
Citing opportunities in electricity supply, gas, real estate, telecommunications and maintenance of roads in North and South Kivu, Ndima said there are more than 30 million consumers in the region.
Trade mission
Goma Mayor General Commissioner Francois Kabeya said the trade mission has the potential of opening the way for collaboration in various sectors between the two countries.  
Equity Group Managing Director and chief executive James Mwangi said the bank has set aside $5 million (Sh562 million) for entrepreneurs to invest in tourism, manufacturing and other sectors in region.
“This mission is about uniting our people. There are no better collaborators than the business community that takes the risk, makes mistakes but creates wealth.  The real cure of Africa poverty is wealth creation. We are on a defined course of changing the destiny of our continent,” he said. 
Equity has been in DRC for the last seven years.