Kolwezi, May 17, 2025 – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) played a leading role at the 6th edition of the Katanga Business Meeting (KBM), held from May 15 to 17, 2025 in Kolwezi, Lualaba Province, under the theme: “Building Our Future.”
This major economic forum brought together political decision-makers, business leaders, civil society representatives, and technical and financial partners, with the aim of discussing the levers of sustainable development in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The opening ceremony, chaired by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa, highlighted the strategic importance of the Lobito Corridor for the country’s economic future.

Discussions at the KBM emphasized the need to create synergies between economic, institutional, educational, and industrial ecosystems, to support the DRC on its path to emergence.

In this context, UNIDO presented the progress achieved through the Skills and Employment Promotion Project (PAFEQ), implemented in partnership with the Congolese Government, Sweden, and industrial partners such as Volvo and Epiroc.

PAFEQ aims to strengthen the technical skills of youth and professionals in the maintenance of heavy equipment and commercial vehicles, thereby responding to the growing demand from companies operating in Haut-Katanga and Lualaba.

Key highlights of the project:

• Three training programs, comprising 20 modules and 31 key competencies, are already available. They target learners in the educational system, young job seekers, and professionals, who are already benefiting from continuing education sessions delivered by INPP Haut-Katanga. Other target groups will have access in the coming days.
• Capacity building for 15 trainers (9 from INPP, 5 from ITIMA, 1 from the Lualaba Resource Center), through technical and pedagogical training conducted in the DRC, Morocco, Zambia, and Dubai, in partnership with SMT, Volvo, and Epiroc.

UNIDO’s participation in the KBM, alongside INPP, helped strengthen dialogue with the private sector and showcased PAFEQ’s tangible results, while identifying companies’ specific needs for qualified labor.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of creating direct bridges between vocational training and access to employment, particularly in the field of maintenance for heavy equipment and commercial vehicles.

PAFEQ is funded by the Swedish Government, benefits from the technical support of Volvo and Epiroc, and is implemented by UNIDO in partnership with INPP and ITIMA.