Vietnam’s largest private conglomerate, Vingroup, will be accorded up to 6,300 hectares of land free of charge by the government of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to develop a large-scale riverside urban complex. The Kinshasa Riverfront Mega-Urban Project will redefine urban development in Central Africa. It will be one of the largest developments of the kind in the region.
The land allocation got formalized on Saturday in Kinshasa. The city authorities and Vingroup — chaired by Forbes-listed Vietnamese billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly develop the massive urban project. Also, the parties will develop a green transport system alongside the project.
Kinshasa Riverfront Mega-Urban Project Factsheet
Location: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Developer: Vingroup Corporation
Partner: Kinshasa City Government
Project type: Large-scale, mixed-use modern urban center and green transportation initiative.
Size: approximately 6,300 hectares
Goal: To create a modern new urban center, a new symbol of the city’s progress, and a tourist destination.
Green mobility and transportation:
- Public transit: Establish an electric bus network and explore the construction and operation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes.
- Infrastructure: Implement an extensive EV charging infrastructure network. The city has committed to providing land for the charging stations.
Under the MoU, Vingroup will construct a modern riverside megacity on the 6,300-hectare site. The site is located between the southern bank of the Congo River and the northern area of N’djili International Airport. Additionally, this mega development is part of Kinshasa’s urban expansion strategy.
Facilities/Features
Furthermore, the mega urban complex project will consist of residential zones, villas, and apartment complexes. Additionally, it will have hospitals, schools, shopping centers, hotels, entertainment areas, and even future government headquarters.
Daniel Bumba Lubaki, governor of Kinshasa, welcomed Vingroup’s presence in the city. He welcomed the presence by saying that the partnership marks an important milestone in the capital’s sustainable development.
He said with its international experience in urban, housing, and infrastructure development, Vingroup’s involvement will help shape a more modern, livable, and resilient Kinshasa.
Le Thi Thu Thuy, vice-chairwoman of Vingroup, said the project aims to create a model urban center that improves residents’ quality of life, transforms the cityscape, and will become a new symbol of Kinshasa’s development.
Similar Projects in Africa
The massive 6,300-hectare Kinshasa Riverfront Mega-Urban Project presents a stark contrast to the high-profile narrative of Akon City in Senegal. While both projects share the ambition of creating a futuristic, large-scale African city to boost local development, Akon City, the $6 billion, Wakanda-inspired development championed by singer Akon got scrapped by the Senegalese government. This was as a result of years of delays, financial hurdles, and failure to progress beyond a single unfinished welcome center.
