• A $1 billion agro-industrial project in Mbanza-Ngungu, DRC, will process cassava, maize, and rice, aiming to create approximately 20,000 jobs.

• The project is a public-private partnership with Switzerland's Mole Group, supported by industrial giants Bühler and Desmet.

• While initial operations are scheduled for June 2026, the $1 billion financing structure and specific production targets remain undisclosed.

An agreement has officially launched a long-anticipated $1 billion agro-industrial project in Mbanza-Ngungu, in the Kongo Central province. The public-private deal, formalized by State Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Muhindo Nzanghi, grants the final approval for the development of a large-scale agro-industrial complex.

The project is set to span 104,000 hectares under a 99-year land tenure agreement and will process cassava, maize, and rice with a planned transformation capacity of 700, 000 tonnes. Its promoter, Gandi Mole, CEO of Mole Group, the government's partner in this initiative, estimates that the venture will create approximately 20,000 jobs, with over 3,500 being direct positions.

“It is a great day for our country and for Africa in general. This project is designed to effectively process 700 tonnes of agricultural products, primarily cassava, maize, and rice. It is a project that is expected to create around 20,000 jobs indirectly, including more than 3,500 direct positions,” he said, to Ecofin Agency. Mole Group, based in Fribourg, Switzerland, has been active in the DRC for several years, particularly in the cocoa sector, where it projects a 30% increase in output to 2,000 tonnes for 2025.

The initiative's international scope was highlighted by the presence of Swiss Ambassador Leo Tremblay at the signing ceremony. “As the Ambassador of Switzerland, I am pleased to have taken part in this signing ceremony, and I wish every success to this public-private initiative,” he remarked.

The project is supported by key industrial partners, including Switzerland's Bühler Group, a leading supplier of agro-industrial processing technologies, and Desmet from Belgium, which specializes in equipment for oilseed, grain, and biofuel processing. Other development institutions are reportedly involved, although their participation has not yet been officially confirmed.

Details regarding the project's financing remain undisclosed. The parties have not specified the structure of the $1 billion investment, and stakeholders suggest that some contributions may be provided in the form of equipment rather than direct capital. More clarity on this is expected once the detailed project specifications are finalized.

While initial operations are scheduled to begin in June 2026, production volumes and market strategies have not yet been released. The announcement marks a formal start for this major venture. Still, its ultimate success will depend on securing a clear financing model and the timely execution of its infrastructure and operational plans.

Idriss Linge