Bangui, September 8, 2025 - The Central African Republic (CAR) is taking decisive steps to align its abundant natural wealth with sustainable and inclusive development. With the launch of its National Development Plan, the government aims to convert the country’s underutilized resources—ranging from minerals and fertile lands to digital potential—into engines of economic growth and human progress.
Value Creation at the Local Level
At the core of the National Development Plan lies a clear ambition: to end the country’s dependency on raw material exports and instead promote domestic processing and job creation. Each project—from mining to agro-industrial initiatives—is designed to generate local value chains, create sustainable employment, and strengthen social cohesion.
“This is the revolution we’re aiming for: transforming raw materials into value-added products for the national economy,” explains Prof. Richard Filakota, Minister of Economy, Planning, and International Cooperation. “We began by engaging deeply with the private sector because economic financing relies more on private capital than on external investors. We’ve had extensive discussions based on the projects we have prepared.”
Strategic Financing and Private Sector Engagement
The development plan is backed by nearly 700 billion FCFA (approx. $1.1 billion USD) in World Bank financing and seeks to mobilize further investment from international partners and private sector actors. These funds will drive the expansion of key sectors, including mining, agriculture, and digital infrastructure—areas identified as growth pillars in CAR’s strategic framework.
Filakota envisions the National Development Plan as a platform to present CAR’s diversity of resources on the global market—especially through an integrated approach that combines digital innovation, agribusiness development, and industrial transformation.
Roadmap for Emergence
The plan not only targets macroeconomic growth, but also aims to reduce poverty, improve public services, and promote inclusive governance. Key objectives include:
Strengthening territorial cohesion and access to essential infrastructure.
Enhancing education and vocational training to meet labor market needs.
Increasing domestic production capacity in agriculture and mining.
Expanding digital connectivity and e-governance capabilities.
Reinforcing governance and anti-corruption efforts.
This holistic vision seeks to align economic transformation with social equity and environmental resilience, helping CAR build a future where its citizens become active participants in the nation’s progress.
A Strategic Shift for a New CAR
Despite periods of instability in the past, CAR is now positioning itself as a promising investment destination. The National Development Plan reflects a new political will to secure peace, institutional renewal, and broad-based growth.
“The entire transformation process—from finance to economy—is about bringing our country closer to its destiny as a regional contributor of value-added goods and services,” Filakota says.
The National Development Plan is not just a technical blueprint. It is a political statement: that CAR will no longer accept its role on the periphery of global development. It now seeks to take center stage—as a reliable partner, a capable producer, and a resilient state.
Watch the full report by Africa24 here.
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