DRC Vice PM calls for connecting universities to real economy for job creation

The Democratic Republic of Congo faces a critical challenge: generating millions of jobs for its predominantly young population. This was the central message from Vice Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Daniel Mukoko Samba during the opening of Student Week in Kinshasa.

Speaking at a scientific colloquium themed "Training and Producing: Connecting the University to the Real Economy," Samba emphasized higher education's strategic role in preparing youth for the nation's economic development. He noted that the DRC's demographic profile presents both a significant opportunity and a heavy responsibility for the state, stating, "The economy must be capable of creating jobs not in the thousands, but in the millions."

While acknowledging economic growth over the past two decades, Samba deemed it insufficient, largely dependent on the mining and extractive industries which account for 50-60% of national growth. To address this reliance, the government is pursuing a structural economic transformation. Current efforts focus on diversifying growth sources through strategic sectors like agro-industry, the wood sector, and the local processing of mineral products before export.

Samba believes that bridging the gap between academia and the economy is essential for training a skilled workforce, fostering innovation, and creating sustainable employment for Congolese youth. These discussions are central to Student Week, which convenes academics, researchers, students, and economic actors to address the country's development challenges.

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The economy must be capable of creating jobs not in the thousands, but in the millions.