DRC needs more from investors

The call, which comes direct from President Joseph Kabila Kabange, is part of the DRC's attempts to renegotiate mining contracts and use external funds the way it wants instead of depending on investors' wishes.

According to past reports, President Kabila's government has already upset western donors and investors through lack of co-operation and now neighbouring South African Development Community (SADC) states are becoming increasingly angered over the governments failure of plans to utilize Inga’s hydroelectric resources.

Good news

Things could soon change though, given that major new power projects have already been announced and a new oil and gas licensing round is now set to take place.

However, cynics have warned that investors will need "watertight guarantees" to persuade investors that the Congo really is "open for business."

Now reports suggest that President Kabila has yet to convince most Congolese that his recovery program – known as les cinq chantiers – will significantly improve their lives, while recent government action to squeeze more out of resource projects mean that DRC has taken a more nationalist, populist turn as it looks towards elections in 2011.

Planning Minister Olivier Kamitatu Etsu has now warned, "The task ahead of them [the Government] is so huge, the country so big, that no matter what we do it will not be enough for our own population."