The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is to host its first international conference on investment in the digital economy, with the event aiming to provide a platform for the creation of a strong entrepreneurship and investment ecosystem in the country.
The conference is set to take place on July 6 and 7 in Kinshasa, and marks the first effort to address the role of startups and the wider digital economy in the DRC’s development.
Organised by local startup incubator Konnect SAS, the event is supported by a number of partners, including private sector association the Federation des Entreprises du Congo, the Makutano network, Silikon Bantu, and Procredit Bank.
International organisations such as the African Business Angels Network (ABAN) and the European Business Angels Network (EBAN) have also committed to take part in the initiative, which aims to give the DRC’s ecosystem a boost.
The conference will focus on sharing experiences of how attendees have participates in building the ecosystem in their own countries, and how to promote local investment for the emergence of digital startups.
“While some African countries have initiated mechanisms in recent years to take advantage of the social, political and economic opportunities that digital technology brings to the continent’s populations through the development and adoption of innovative solutions to meet local needs; the DRC has yet to fully benefit,” Konnect SAS says.
“However, it has reached a turning point, which requires it to address the issue of new technologies not just as a support mechanism for other sectors but as full-fledged sectors offering job creation and wealth.”
Registration for the conference is available here.
