By Ange Kasongo
KINSHASA, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo has approved a task force to speed up implementation of its strategic minerals partnership with the United States, according to cabinet minutes seen by Reuters on Tuesday, as Kinshasa seeks to attract more Western investment into its copper and cobalt sectors.
The decision marks the latest step in Congo's efforts to diversify funding sources beyond China and strengthen ties with Washington, which is seeking to challenge China's
dominance of critical minerals supply chains.
Congo, the world's largest cobalt producer and second-largest copper exporter, signed the partnership with the U.S. in December.
The deal has already delivered a U.S.-backed mining investment through Virtus Minerals and expanded copper offtake arrangements between state miner Gecamines and traders Mercuria and Glencore, boosting Congolese sales to Western markets.
The September 11 cabinet decision formally establishes a "DRC-USA Task Force" to accelerate execution of the partnership, according to a government account of the meeting.
Economy Minister Daniel Mukoko Samba told ministers the body would help translate commitments made under the partnership into "concrete economic and security results" for Congolese citizens, the statement said. It did not provide details on the task force's composition or identify priority projects it would oversee.
A government official said the task force was initially due to become operational in February but was delayed by administrative hurdles.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said implementation of the partnership continued despite the delay.
At the same meeting, ministers approved a record $24.8 billion budget for 2027, up 12% from this year's revised spending plan. Infrastructure, security and economic diversification are among the government's priorities, according to the statement.
(Reporting by Ange Adihe Kasongo. Writing by Maxwell Akalaare Adombila. Editng by Mark Potter)
