Manufacturing and Mining Deals Top Investors List in DRC Trade Mission
Lubumbashi, March 2026... Manufacturing capacity and mining‑adjacent services took centre stage as Equity Group’s week‑long trade mission led more than 50 regional and international investors through industrial sites in Lubumbashi, positioning deals in equipment, engineering and value‑addition.
The delegation has drawn participants from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan and Burundi, as well as South Africa, Zimbabwe, the Republic of the Congo Brazzaville, Eritrea, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Poland, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Equity has framed the mission as a deal‑making platform, with its DRC subsidiary, Equity BCDC, ready to structure and finance transactions in subcontracting, logistics, energy and agro‑processing tied to mineral demand.
At MES Holdings (Mining Engineering Services), an industrial complex under the Vinmart Group, delegates reviewed solutions spanning project management, power, civil construction, manufacturing, waste management, engineering supply, equipment rental, specialty services and underground mining support. CFO Sanjeev Jha said the Manufacturing Unit includes a cathode refurbishment plant, Congo Piping SAS Ltd for high‑quality HDPE pipes and fittings, Congo Cables and Transformers Ltd, and Mamba Roofing Sheets Ltd.
He added that MES owns 10 major mining sites and provides skilled manpower for projects, maintenance and operations across mining‑related industries, with its Plant Operation Services division handling comprehensive maintenance and repair of industrial electrical and mechanical systems.
Chairman Chetan Chug highlighted value addition and sustainability: “MES is a key player in manufacturing HDPE pipes, cathode and anode plates, lead ingots, and electrical cables. We also operate advanced recycling plants for copper and lead scrap, used batteries, and oil, contributing to sustainable practices in the mining sector.”
Hyper Psaro Group presented its diversified footprint across fuel and lubricants, commodity trading, farming, transport and fast‑moving consumer goods. Sales and Marketing Director Yiannis Dimas said support from Equity BCDC, and a strong balance sheet have enabled the company to secure licences from Unilever, Nestlé and Coca‑Cola to bottle and distribute their products.
“We also manufacture our own products, including EXTRADOUX toilet paper, napkins, and UHT milk, among several other fast‑moving consumer goods,” he noted.
He added that six supermarkets in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi are being converted into Carrefour‑branded outlets under a strategic partnership, and identified collaboration opportunities in hospitality and catering, as well as in solar, recycling, waste management and the servicing of specialised manufacturing and packaging machinery.
National Agency for Investment Promotion (ANAPI) officials briefed delegates on incentives, repatriation guarantees and ongoing reforms, while positioning Katanga’s mining ecosystem and industrial base as anchors for regional supply chains.
Investors said the site tours and B2B sessions helped build pipelines in equipment supply, engineering services and processing linked to copper and cobalt production.
Earlier on, Nicole Dow, Equity’s Director for Brand and Global Communications, said the programme connects entrepreneurs and investors to high growth markets and frontier opportunities.
“Through our strategic Trade Missions, we seek to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs, investors, and high growth markets, empowering businesses to scale, expand, explore investment opportunities, and thrive across the continent,” she said.