Role of SMEs in Mining Sovereignty Discussed at Summit in Kolwezi
The summit in Kolwezi highlighted the critical role of SMEs and innovation in achieving mining sovereignty for the DRC. With the country being a major producer of cobalt and copper, local transformation of resources is essential for economic growth.

The summit in Kolwezi emphasized the importance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and innovation in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) mining sector. The DRC produces approximately 76% of the world's cobalt and exported 3.4 million tons of copper in 2025.
Local subcontracting increased from $300 million to $2.4 billion between 2022 and 2024. Minister Justin Kalumba underscored the need for local resource transformation and the certification of reserves.
The choice of Kolwezi, known as the cobalt capital, reinforces the DRC's potential in global supply chains. The reliance on technology for resource mapping and production traceability is critical for sector modernization, presenting both opportunities and challenges for local enterprises.


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