Ottawa, May 23, 2026 — On the sidelines of his official mission to Canada, I had the honour of meeting His Excellency Julien Paluku, Minister of Foreign Trade of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Our exchange focused on key issues related to the economic future of our country, and on the role of Congolese talent abroad to support innovation, skills transfer, and the international promotion of the country’s economic potential. We also discussed how my startup, Nucigen Labs, could contribute to strengthening economic intelligence tools applied to foreign trade, particularly in relation to the analysis and preparation of the mercuriales. In a global environment where strategic minerals, commodity prices, logistics, geopolitical disruptions, and market signals are constantly evolving, the DRC must be equipped with modern tools capable of supporting better anticipation, stronger decision-making, and more strategic positioning in international markets. I also had the opportunity to highlight the importance of providing Congolese public officials and institutions with adequate digital and analytical tools. Strengthening the capacity of our administration through data, forecasting, market intelligence, and strategic analysis is essential to reinforce the DRC’s commercial sovereignty and negotiating power. As a young Congolese originally from Goma, currently a student and engaged in innovation, economic intelligence, and technologies applied to the mining sector, this exchange was both meaningful and highly motivating. It reflected, to me, the confidence that the Government places in its youth, in innovation, and in economic transformation. The DRC has immense potential: strategic minerals, energy, agriculture, a dynamic youth population, a key geographic position, and significant investment opportunities. Transforming this potential into sustainable growth requires stronger connections between the country, international investors, global markets, modern economic analysis tools, and the expertise of its diaspora. I deeply believe that the new Congolese generation, both at home and abroad, can make a concrete contribution through technology, data, strategic intelligence, entrepreneurship, and by building bridges between the DRC and the rest of the world. This moment in Ottawa reinforced one of my strongest convictions: the Congolese diaspora should not only observe the country’s development from a distance. It must also participate, propose solutions, build, invest, and support national efforts. I remain determined, at my level, to contribute to initiatives aimed at strengthening the attractiveness of the DRC, strategically valuing its resources, and supporting the vision of a more sovereign, competitive Congolese economy fully integrated into global economic dynamics. My sincere gratitude to His Excellency Julien Paluku for his time, his openness, and his attention to the ideas and contributions of young Congolese from the diaspora.