7 Jul 2022 12:33

Democratic Republic of Congo names areas for broader economic cooperation with Russia

YEKATERINBURG. July 7 (Interfax) - The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) seeks to strengthen relations with Russia and to broaden their range, DRC Ambassador to Russia Ivan Vangu Ngimbi said.

"We have long-standing relations with Russia... These are good relations yet emphasis has been put on political dialogue rather than economic relations. We have come here to see, get an idea and provide information about the priority areas which our country is interested in developing in its relations with Russia," Ngimbi told Interfax on the sidelines of the Innoprom exhibition.

It is necessary to specify the areas in which cooperation between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Russia will develop, he said.

"We have found common ground in agribusiness, healthcare, construction, mining and university cooperation. These are areas, the spheres where we may draft agreements and offer them for signing in the coming years," he said.

DRC representatives are considering the possible use of the Russian analogue of the SWIFT international interbank system, i.e. the Financial Messaging System of the Bank of Russia, Ngimbi said.

"For now, we are just gathering information to understand how it would work. Once the required information is gathered, and economic and financial experts study it and report to people in government, the government will make the necessary decisions," he said.

The MidUral chemical and metallurgical group involved in economic cooperation between Russia and the Democratic Republic of Congo organized the visit of a DRC delegation led by the ambassador. "MidUral Group is implementing a niobium mining project in a province of the Democratic Republic of Congo," economic and PR councilor at the DRC embassy to Russia Joseph Kindundu Mukombo said.