Inauguration of Léopard Business Village in Rabat to Strengthen Moroccan-Congolese Partnership During the Africa Cup of Nations 2025
The Moroccan capital, Rabat, inaugurated the Léopard Business Village – Expo CAN Morocco 2025 yesterday, December 19, 2025. This pan-African platform for economic, cultural, and tourism diplomacy was launched by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to enhance bilateral partnerships and highlight its soft power on the continent.
The project, executed by the Congolese Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with Think Tank RDC Stratégie, spans an area of 3,500 square meters, coinciding with the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025. It serves as a temporary embassy for the DRC in Morocco.
Léopard Business Village aims to bolster cooperation between Morocco and the DRC in tourism, culture, economy, and sports, focusing on investors and economic and cultural actors from both countries, while encouraging trade exchanges, joint investments, and partnerships between institutions and companies.
The project is divided into three main areas: the exhibition pavilion for Congolese companies active in infrastructure, technology, food industries, creativity, and innovation; the cultural and entertainment space, featuring music concerts, artistic performances, creative workshops, tasting traditional dishes, and showcasing Africa Cup of Nations matches; and the economic and diplomatic center, dedicated to ministerial sessions, roundtables, business meetings, bilateral discussions, and networking opportunities.
The events program runs from December 19, 2025, to January 18, 2026, encompassing exhibitions, conferences, cultural events, and economic meetings, making Rabat a hub for pan-African economic and cultural development during the tournament.
The opening ceremony was attended by Moroccan government members, ministers from the DRC, accredited diplomatic bodies, along with economic and cultural figures and representatives of African and international delegations. This initiative aims to enhance the identity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the continental level under the slogan: “DRC – Heart of Africa,” affirming its strategic position on the continent.
