DRC, Mole Group sign US$1B deal for agro-industrial park in Mbanza-Ngungu

DRC – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has officially launched a US$1 billion project that aims to transform its food production sector. 

On September 30, 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security signed a public-private partnership with the Swiss firm, Mole Group,  for the creation of the Mbanza-Ngungu Agro-Industrial Park in Kongo Central.

A large-scale investment

The project, first announced in September 2024, will cover 105,000 hectares, including 85,000 hectares of arable land. Authorities confirmed that construction will begin in the summer of 2026 and last for four years. 

Once completed, the site will grow cassava, maize, wheat, rice, and sugarcane while producing an estimated 700,000 tons of processed food annually.

“We are creating more than 20,000 direct and indirect jobs and laying the foundations for sustainable agricultural transformation capable of generating income for local populations while strengthening food sovereignty in the DRC,” said Gandi Mole, CEO of Mole Group.

Officials believe the park could play a vital role in addressing the country’s food deficit. Between 2019 and 2023, the DRC spent an average of US$1.79 billion each year on food imports, according to the Central Bank. 

By scaling up domestic production, the government hopes to cut dependence on imports and stabilize food supplies.

Lessons from the region

Analysts point out that the project echoes similar efforts across Africa to build agro-industrial parks that serve as both production hubs and employment drivers. 

In Ethiopia, large-scale farming zones in Oromia and Amhara have drawn private capital and boosted exports of crops such as maize and wheat. Nigeria has also invested in agro-processing clusters, though progress there has faced delays due to financing gaps.

For the DRC, success in Mbanza-Ngungu could strengthen investor confidence in a sector with vast potential. Official figures show that the country has 80 million hectares of arable land, yet only 10 percent of it is cultivated. Expanding production capacity while attracting private partners could shift that balance.

Future outlook

The government and Mole Group say they see the project as more than a food production site. They expect it to create supporting industries in logistics, storage, and processing, all of which could spur regional growth.

Local observers remain cautious but optimistic. “We have seen many agricultural announcements that did not materialize, but this one already shows a clear plan and financing structure,” said a Kinshasa-based agricultural economist.

If completed as planned, the Mbanza-Ngungu park could mark a turning point in the country’s efforts to build food security and attract long-term investment into agriculture.

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