Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura met in this capital with Congolese Mining Minister Antoinette Nsamba Karambayi and signed a joint declaration that reflects the will to build a sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship.

According to an official statement, the Japanese minister said that the Democratic Republic of the Congo has large mineral resources, whereas Japan has excellent technology to exploit them adequately.

In this regard, Nishimura added that he would encourage Japanese companies to take part in mining projects in the DRC, starting with business meetings, investment seminars, and public-private missions as of early 2023.

In 2021, the Democratic Republic of the Congo led the world cobalt production (about 70 percent), of which it has the world’s largest reserve, estimated at 3.5 million tons.

This valuable metal is used to increase the performance of lithium batteries of electrical vehicles and has a wide variety of industrial applications that, together with other minerals, are sought after by Japan, a country that lacks these resources.

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