Brazzaville: Congolese diaspora summoned to the Europe-Congo Economic Forum on October 14 and 15, 2026

The Palais des Congrès in Brazzaville will host the second edition of the Europe-Congo Economic Forum on October 14 and 15, 2026, dedicated to the role of the Congolese diaspora in the country's economic development. The event is organized by the High Representative Council of Congolese Abroad, in partnership with the International Development Support Service (SIAD), reports the Central African Information Agency (ADIAC).

The forum is set to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, project leaders, experts, technical and financial partners, institutional actors, and members of the Congolese diaspora, according to ADIAC. The program is organized around thematic panels led by speakers from the diaspora and the private sector.

Very practical panels

The selected topics reflect the obstacles that Congolese living abroad most often cite when considering investing in their home country. One panel is dedicated to the business climate and investment security, moderated by Arnold Wesley Akina. Another focuses on infrastructure, energy, water, digital technology, and public-private partnerships, with Jeffrey Moukassa. Michelle Mfoutou will lead discussions on support and financing for impact-driven businesses, and Dimitri M'Foumou-Titi will lead those on training, skills, and human capital.

A separate panel is reserved for female entrepreneurship, led by Séraphine Ekoa, with an emphasis on access to financing and building partnerships—a central issue in economies where women entrepreneurs remain the most underserved by bank credit.

From money transfers to productive investment

The stated ambition is to transition from a diaspora that supports its families to a diaspora that creates businesses and jobs. Across the continent, the bulk of funds sent by Africans abroad finances household consumption and real estate, with only a minority going toward productive activities. Forums of this type are multiplying precisely to correct this imbalance.

However, the responsibility does not lie solely with those sending the money. For years, the diaspora has been demanding legal guarantees, clear taxation, reliable land procedures, and an administration that honors its commitments. This is also what will be judged in Brazzaville: not the goodwill of Congolese abroad, whose transfers already support the national economy, but the state's ability to offer them a framework in which to invest without losing their capital.

The organizers expect the forum to produce operational recommendations intended to inform public policies that support diaspora investors.