KINSHASA, 21 October 2023 – Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang, with residence in Nairobi, Kenya, became the first Philippine ambassador to be accredited to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following her presentation of credentials to DRC President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo on 19 October 2023 at the Palais de Nation in Kinshasa.
Ambassador Tang conveyed the warm wishes of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to President Tshisekedi and to the Congolese people.
Ambassador Tang expressed that as the first Philippine envoy to be officially accredited to the DRC, she will strive to deepen the relations between the two countries and increase the consciousness of Filipinos and Congolese of each other.
Ambassador Tang cited that a Filipino company, the ICTSI, has invested in one of the DRC’s ports and expressed her hope to further promote trade and economic activities. She also conveyed the Philippines’ intention to open an honorary consulate in Kinshasa as this would facilitate increased commercial and people-to-people engagements.
President Tshisekedi, meanwhile, welcomed Ambassador Tang to Kinshasa and expressed his optimism about the future direction of DRC-Philippine relations.
The DRC is the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa in terms of land area. It is known for its abundant mineral resources, including gold, copper, cobalt, and coltan; while its rainforests, blessed by the mighty Congo River, host tremendous biodiversity. In 2022, the DRC’s economy grew by 8.5 percent, making it among the fastest growing in the whole of Africa.
