Riyadh summit highlights
From 23 to 27 November, Riyadh hosts the 21st UNIDO General Conference, a cornerstone of the World Industry Summit 2025 platform. Congo-Brazzaville’s delegation, led by Industrial Development Minister Antoine Thomas Nicéphore Fylla Saint-Eudes, joined peers from 172 member states to debate inclusive, sustainable industrialisation (UNIDO communique).
The gathering centres on “The power of investment and partnerships for accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals”, reflecting a shift toward bankable, impact-linked manufacturing. Panels feature multilateral lenders, sovereign funds and technology firms eager to match emerging-market demand with capital and know-how (Saudi Press Agency).
Congo’s industrial roadmap
Speaking on 25 November, Minister Fylla Saint-Eudes summarised Congo’s Industrial Development Strategy 2022-2026. The plan prioritises downstream processing of oil, gas, timber and agricultural products, supported by special economic zones in Pointe-Noire, Oyo and Ouesso. Government targets a 20 % manufacturing share of GDP by 2026, up from 8 % in 2021 (Ministry data).
Flagship projects include a modular refinery extension in Pointe-Noire, an MDF board plant in Ouesso and an agri-industrial park near Dolisie. Environmental audits accompany each venture, consistent with the Congo Basin climate agenda and the nation’s updated NDC under the Paris Agreement.
Investment windows and PPP pipeline
The delegation presented a pipeline worth 3.4 billion USD for public-private partnerships over 2024-2028. Opportunities span port logistics, fibre-optic backbones, solar mini-grids and mineral transformation. Fiscal incentives under the 2021 Investment Charter combine accelerated depreciation, customs rebates and five-year profit-tax holidays for priority sectors.
A risk-sharing facility with Afreximbank and the Arab-Africa Trade Bridges programme underpins project preparation. According to Minister Fylla Saint-Eudes, a dedicated Industrial Finance Desk at the Treasury will fast-track sovereign guarantees for PPPs below 150 million USD, trimming lead times that historically deterred foreign sponsors.
Aligning with Sustainable Development Goals
UNIDO officials applauded Congo’s emphasis on SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure) complemented by SDG 13 (climate action). The Pointe-Noire refinery project, for example, plans a flare-gas recovery unit expected to curb annual CO₂ emissions by 220,000 tonnes. A digital traceability system for timber exports aims to certify legality across 12 million hectares of concession.
The delegation reiterated Brazzaville’s objective to reach 30 % renewable power in the national mix by 2030, leveraging abundant hydro and solar potential. Partnerships with Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power and South Korea’s Kepco are under negotiation, underscoring the summit’s role as a matchmaking arena.
Financing levers and risk mitigation
Multilateral lenders present in Riyadh, including the Islamic Development Bank and the African Development Bank, signalled interest in blended-finance structures combining concessional loans and commercial tranches. The Congo delegation highlighted the forthcoming Sovereign Green Bond Framework, drafted with UNDP support, as a vehicle to mobilise climate-aligned capital at competitive coupons.
Moody’s Analytics briefed investors on Congo’s improving debt indicators after the June 2023 restructuring accord with its main bilateral partners. The debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to decline from 87 % in 2022 to 71 % by 2025, creating fiscal space for industrial infrastructure without threatening sustainability benchmarks.
Perspectives from stakeholders
“Our objective is value addition at home, not just exporting raw logs or crude,” Minister Fylla Saint-Eudes told delegates, adding that local processing could create 45,000 direct jobs within four years. Representatives of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund noted Congo’s geographic advantage as a Gulf-Atlantic trans-shipment hub.
Private-sector participants welcomed the government’s one-stop investment window, active since July. Nevertheless, they urged predictable electricity tariffs and faster land-leasing procedures. Civil-society observers in Riyadh stressed the need for gender-inclusive training, citing UNIDO research showing that women occupy only 12 % of skilled positions in Congolese manufacturing.
Outlook for 2024-2025
Following the conference, Congo expects to finalise a Country Partnership Programme with UNIDO, outlining technical assistance for industrial parks, quality-standards labs and SME clusters. Implementation missions are scheduled for the first quarter of 2024.
Back in Brazzaville, the cabinet will review a draft Industrialisation Acceleration Bill granting fast-track zoning and digital customs clearance. If enacted, analysts at Control Risks believe the measure could cut logistics costs by 15 % and elevate the Doing Business score, reinforcing confidence stoked in Riyadh.
