Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to engage private finance and the private sector in efforts to support a lasting peace within eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the surrounding region.

The UK is committed to supporting a thriving private sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) - recognising the enormous potential for climate-smart growth and that a more resilient economy will mean a more resilient DRC. UK officials regularly engage with the private sector on the conflict in eastern DRC, including on how we can best support sustainable peace. British Embassy Kinshasa has also offered support to British companies affected by the conflict. The UK also supports improved transparency and governance in the mining sector, in support of sustainable peace in the region. Exploitation of natural resources fuels the business models of armed groups and we are clear that this must stop. The UK therefore supports the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.