Following the signing of a bilateral business agreement between the key business chambers of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Africa, in Kinshasa earlier this year, a business forum was launched on Friday in Johannesburg that will facilitate discussions on investment opportunities for companies looking to market their products and services in the respective countries.

The key business chambers, Business Unity South Africa (Busa), Chambers of Commerce and Industry South Africa (Chamsa) and the Federation of Enterprises of the DRC (FEC) have been holding discussions for some time, and all parties involved say that the summit is the direct product of strong relations between President Thabo Mbeki and President Joseph Kabila.

There are a number of areas in which bilateral investment opportunities exist between the two countries, said DRC's Minister of Economy Emile Ngoy Kasongo.

Speaking at a media briefing in Sandton, Kasongo said these areas are infrastructural development, tourism, mining, energy, financial services, telecommunications, information technology, agriculture and forestry.

He emphasised that South African companies will be given preference in terms of investment opportunities in the DRC and said that now is the time for these companies to become involved in the growth of the DRC economy.

Echoing Kasongo's sentiments, the President of FEC, Pascal Kinduelo Lumbu said that South African companies should invest in the DRC now before it is too late.

“All the stumbling blocks that could have prevented investment have now been removed and a facilitating environment has been put in place. South African investors must not wait, otherwise they may find that there is no space left,” Lumbu said.

One of the main concerns for South African investors has been the potential seizure of their goods if the government of DRC decides to nationalise all business ventures like it did in 1973.

However, the governments of the two countries have signed an agreement that will afford South African companies the necessary protection against such an action, if nationalisation ever repeated itself.

“The South African companies will not have their goods seized in the event of nationalisation,” Kasongo said.

“We will be treating the South African companies as if they are our own investors and will provide them with as many privileges as possible,” he concluded.

Currently, at least 30% of the DRC's $400-million imports are from South Africa, and ways to address the trade imbalance are also to be examined.