H.E. Julien Paluku Kahongya, Minister of Industry, Democratic Republic of the Congo

H.E. Julien Paluku Kahongya currently serves as the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Minister of Industry, a post he has held since September 2019. As Minister of Industry, Paluku oversees cooperation and investment opportunities in industry in the DRC. Paluku is a pioneer of creating a local battery value chain in the DRC and supports efforts directed at achieving these goals. Prior to assuming this position, Paluku, an experienced politician, was the governor of North Kivu in the DRC.

Paluku was also mayor of Beni, DRC where he initiated different infrastructure projects. Prior to this, Paluku was mayor of Butembo, where he also focused on infrastructure, including building a town hall, public parking, a bridge and repairing roads.

Paluku holds a master’s degree in Community Health from the Free University of the Great Lakes Region in Butembo, DRC.