PARTNERSHIP, TRADE, PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT AT THE CENTER OF A STRATEGIC MEETING BETWEEN MINISTER JULIEN PALUKU KAHONGYA AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, JOZEF SIKELA AND THE ADVISOR TO THE US PRESIDENT FOR AFRICA, MASSAD BOULOS ON THE SIDE OF THE GLOBAL GATEWAY FORUM CLOSED THIS FRIDAY OCTOBER 10, 2025 IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
The operational aspects of regional economic integration through the Global Gateway fund as part of the Lobito corridor project in the form of an integrated program and the intervention of American companies in economic projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in several sectors including trade, energy, mines, agriculture, transport, digital and skills development, highlighting peace as an essential factor for prosperity and a resilient economy.
These points were at the center of a strategic meeting this Friday, October 10, 2025 in Brussels, Belgium between the Minister of Foreign Trade, Julien Paluku Kahongya and the European Commissioner in charge of international partnerships, Jozef Sikela and President Donald Trump's Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos on the sidelines of the Global Gateway 2025 Forum which closed its curtains in the Belgian capital.
It was an opportunity for the Minister of Foreign Trade, Former Governor of North Kivu for 12 years and Expert in conflict management in the Great Lakes region to strengthen understanding of the recurring wars tearing the Kivus apart, its real motives, including economic and other, its consequences and the perspectives envisaged by the European Union and the United States of America; discussions which will continue in Washington during the week of October 13 to 18, 2025
Minister Julien Paluku Kahongya, who took part in several panels on the sidelines of this Global Gateway forum, said that the DRC has obtained the commitment of the European Union to support the Kinshasa-Kivu, Inga green corridor projects and the development of a Special Economic Zone for the data industry in the digital context.
Note that the Minister of Commerce and Coordinator of the DRC-EU Task Force
was invited to the meeting between the President of the Republic, Félix Tshisekedi and the President of the Commission of the European Union, Ursula Von Der Layen
