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Reference ID	Created	Released	Classification	Origin
07KINSHASA608	2007-06-04 16:42	2011-08-26 00:00	UNCLASSIFIED	Embassy Kinshasa

VZCZCXRO4716
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0608/01 1551642
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041642Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6232
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000608 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EFIN EMIN ELAB EAIR ECON PGOV CG
SUBJECT: DRC MAY MONTHLY ECONOMIC REVIEW 
 
REF: KINSHASA 579 
 
¶1. (U) Summary. 
- The GDRC has not yet promulgated a 2007 budget, though a draft 
budget of USD 2.137 billion is currently being debated in 
Parliament. 
 
- An IMF team is in Kinshasa to consult with the GDRC on its 
progress toward possible implementation of a new economic program. 
 
- The GDRC replaced the management team of MIBA (DRC's diamond 
mining parastatal), and its employees ended their strike. 
 
- Gecamines employees threatened to strike over salary and benefits. 
 
 
- The GDRC's review of 63 mining contracts is expected to begin in 
June. 
 
-  Consumer prices rose by 1.26 percent in May, according to the 
IMF. The Congolese Franc (CF) appreciated by nearly ten percent. End 
summary. 
 
Aviation 
-------- 
 
¶2. (U) A small aircraft reportedly carrying minerals to Goma crashed 
May 17 in Walikale, North Kivu, and three persons on board died. 
 
Budget/Finance 
------------- 
 
¶3. (U) The GDRC presented a draft 2007 USD 2.137 billion budget to 
the Parliament for debate and vote.  40 percent of revenues would 
come from external sources, with a funding gap of about USD 87 
million. 
 
¶4. (U) An IMF consultation team arrived in the DRC May 23 to review 
the GDRC's progress on the informal advisory program and determine 
the feasibility of beginning negotiations to implement a new 
economic reform program. 
 
¶5. (U) The DRC's Central Bank reserves rose from USD 162 million in 
April to about USD 190 million at the end of May. 
 
¶6. (U) The Minister of Finance Athanase Matenda led a GDRC 
delegation to Shanghai for the annual African Development Bank 
meeting held May 16-18. 
 
¶7. (U) Representatives from the DRC's 11 provinces met in Matadi, 
Bas-Congo to discuss decentralization.  The group issued a statement 
recommending retention of 40 percent of the national revenue 
generated within each province.  (Details to follow septel.) 
 
Energy 
------ 
 
¶8. (U) Following recent swings in the exchange rate, an 
interministerial commission increased the price of gasoline on May 
11 from 510 Congolese Franc (CF) per USD to USD 580 CF/USD and 
reduced it to 550 CF/USD effective June 1. 
 
¶9. (U) South African-based Engen Petroleum Limited has announced the 
purchase of 60 percent of the shares of Shell DRC and 13 percent of 
SEP-Congo (DRC's petroleum import and distribution parastatal). 
Shell has retail and commercial operations in the DRC.  Engen 
already has a presence in the DRC via a joint-venture with French 
company TotalFinaElf and the GDRC. The GDRC has not yet approved the 
transaction. 
 
Labor 
----- 
 
¶10. (U) Employees of MIBA (the DRC's diamond mining parastatal) in 
Mbuji-Mayi, Eastern Kasai suspended their strike after the Minister 
of Portfolio paid their April salaries and replaced the company's 
chief executives (septel). 
 
¶11. (U) Gecamines employees in Lubumbashi, Katanga went on strike 
briefly in May to demand payment of salary arrears and support for 
their schools and hospitals. 
 
¶12. (U) Employees of OFIDA (DRC's customs agency) negotiated at 
least a short-term resolution of their salary and bonus grievances, 
averting a strike.  However, OFIDA (DRC's customs agency) staff in 
Katanga, who have also threatened to strike, have not received a 
 
KINSHASA 00000608  002 OF 002 
 
 
response to their complaints about remission of a portion of their 
pay bonuses to Kinshasa. 
 
Natural Resources 
----------------- 
 
¶13. (U) The GDRC's review of 63 joint-venture mining agreements has 
not yet begun (reftel). 
 
¶14. (U) A DRC association of industrial lumber producers publicly 
objected to Greenpeace's April 2007 report on the DRC's lumber 
industry. 
 
Trade and Investment 
-------------------- 
 
¶15. (U) According to local media, a Chinese lumber company known as 
Shushang is discussing with DRC officials the possibility of 
supplying Mbandaka, Equateur province with electrical power. 
 
¶16. (U) British company Crown Agents is reportedly nearing an 
agreement with the GDRC to assist with customs reform. 
 
Consumer Inflation Rate 
----------------------- 
 
¶17. (U) According to the IMF, May consumer prices increased by 1.26 
percent from April. 
 
Exchange Rate 
------------- 
 
¶18. (U) The CF appreciated by more than nine percent against the USD 
in May, beginning the month at an official exchange rate of 546 
CF/USD and ending the month at 495 CF/USD. The CF appreciated from 
an average of 530 CF/USD on May 1 to 480 CF/USD on May 31 on the 
Kinshasa parallel market. 
 
MEECE

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Viewing cable 07KINSHASA608, DRC MAY MONTHLY ECONOMIC REVIEW