Forrest Group
Corporate brand
UnclaimedForrest Group is a privately owned Belgian industrial conglomerate with major historical and operating interests in mining, engineering, infrastructure, energy, manufacturing and aviation in Central and East Africa.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Forrest Group, also known as Groupe Forrest, is a Belgian industrial conglomerate whose origins lie in the transport, mining and civil-engineering economy of Katanga in the former Belgian Congo. Malta Forrest established l'Entreprise Générale Malta Forrest, commonly abbreviated as EGMF, in 1922. The business initially transported goods and materials, but expanded during the 1930s into gold, copper and manganese mining at sites including Kolwezi, Musonoi and Kasekelesa. Its activities later grew beyond extraction into the infrastructure required by mining communities and industrial centers. During the early 1950s, EGMF participated in the development of the Kisenge manganese mine and undertook public-works assignments in Kolwezi, including roads, sewerage and airport construction. The company increasingly concentrated on civil engineering in the western Katanga copper belt. This combination of mining services, construction and infrastructure became a defining feature of the group and allowed it to work across both commercial and government-funded projects. Victor Eskenazi-Forrest began assisting Malta Forrest in 1954. After the founder's death, Victor Eskenazi-Forrest and George Arthur Forrest assumed control of the company. EGMF adopted limited-liability status in 1968 and subsequently participated in large public-works programs supported by international institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank. Following Victor Eskenazi-Forrest's death in 1986, George Arthur Forrest took full control. The group continued to work on major Congolese infrastructure projects, including a government contract to restore roads in Lubumbashi, Likasi, Kolwezi and Kalemie. In 1990, EGMF carried out large-scale strip-mining work for Gécamines, the state-controlled mining company. Political upheaval and economic recession in the country, then known as Zaire, brought much of the engineering business to a halt in 1991. In 1995, EGMF helped finance Gécamines' development of the Kasombo 1 cobalt deposit as a private-sector partner. That same year, George Forrest created George Forrest International Group, providing a broader corporate framework for the group's activities. By the period described in available reference material, the Forrest Group comprised businesses associated with Malta Forrest and George Forrest International. Its portfolio extended beyond traditional mining and construction into mining and metallurgy, cement, public works, civil engineering, wind and hydroelectric power, biological food production, aviation and munitions manufacturing. The group also invested in Korongo Airlines in 2009 alongside Brussels Airlines and local investors, supporting a proposed air link between Lubumbashi and Kinshasa and considering further domestic services subject to airport-infrastructure improvements. The group's activities have attracted scrutiny. A United Nations panel in 2002 listed the George Forrest Group among companies it said should face sanctions in connection with operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2010, WikiLeaks-published diplomatic cables generated allegations concerning radiation levels and possible uranium associated with the Luiswishi mine. Groupe Forrest International rejected those claims, stating that uranium in the copper-and-cobalt ore was present at a grade too low to exploit and that radiation levels at the mine were below European standards. These controversies form an important part of the group's public record, although the available material does not establish that sanctions were ultimately imposed or that uranium extraction occurred.
History
Forrest Group traces its roots to 1922, when Malta Forrest established l'Entreprise Générale Malta Forrest in Katanga, then part of the Belgian Congo. The original business was a transport enterprise serving the region's developing mining economy. During the 1930s, it moved into the extraction of gold, copper and manganese at mines in and around Kolwezi, Musonoi and Kasekelesa. The company expanded substantially after the Second World War. In 1951, it undertook mining and civil-engineering work associated with opening the Kisenge manganese mine. In the early 1950s, it also became involved in public works in Kolwezi, constructing roads, sewerage infrastructure and an airport. These projects helped shift the enterprise from a transport and mining contractor into a broader industrial and engineering organization focused on the western Katanga copper belt. Victor Eskenazi-Forrest, Malta Forrest's adoptive son, joined the management of the company in 1954. After Malta Forrest's death in 1974, Victor Eskenazi-Forrest and George Arthur Forrest became managing directors. The company became a limited-liability business in 1968 and took part in major public-works programs financed in part by international development institutions, including the World Bank and African Development Bank. After Victor Eskenazi-Forrest died in 1986, George Arthur Forrest assumed full control. The group later won a major government contract to rehabilitate roads in Lubumbashi, Likasi, Kolwezi and Kalemie. In 1990, EGMF conducted extensive strip-mining work for Gécamines. Political instability and recession in 1991, during the period when the country was called Zaire, interrupted much of the engineering activity. In May 1995, EGMF supported Gécamines in developing the Kasombo 1 cobalt deposit through a private-sector partnership. George Forrest also established George Forrest International Group in 1995. The resulting group developed a diversified structure containing companies associated with Malta Forrest and George Forrest International. Its reported fields included mining and metallurgy, cement, public works, civil engineering, wind power, hydropower, biological food, aviation and munitions manufacturing. In 2009, the group invested in Korongo Airlines with Brussels Airlines and local investors. The proposed expansion of domestic air services depended on improvements to airport infrastructure. Forrest Group's operations have also been the subject of international scrutiny. A 2002 United Nations panel named the George Forrest Group among companies it said should face sanctions for their operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2010, WikiLeaks publications were associated with allegations about radiation at the Luiswishi mine and possible uranium recovery from copper-and-cobalt ore. The group rejected those claims, maintaining that uranium levels were not commercially exploitable and that radiation was below European standards. Available reference material does not provide a definitive account of any subsequent enforcement action.
- 2009
Investment in Korongo Airlines
[1]Forrest Group invested in Korongo Airlines alongside Brussels Airlines and local investors.
- 2002
Named in United Nations sanctions report
[1]A United Nations panel listed the George Forrest Group among companies it said should face sanctions in relation to operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- 1995
Creation of George Forrest International Group
[1]George Forrest created George Forrest International Group and EGMF helped finance development of the Kasombo 1 cobalt deposit with Gécamines.
- 1990
Strip-mining work for Gécamines
[1]EGMF undertook major strip-mining work for the state-controlled mining company Gécamines.
- 1986
George Arthur Forrest assumes full control
[1]Following Victor Eskenazi-Forrest's death, George Arthur Forrest took full control of the company.
- 1974
Leadership transition after Malta Forrest's death
[1]Victor Eskenazi-Forrest and George Arthur Forrest became managing directors.
- 1968
Limited-liability status
[1]The company adopted limited-liability status and later participated in internationally supported public-works programs.
- 1951
Kisenge manganese development
[1]The company undertook mining and civil-engineering work connected with opening the Kisenge manganese mine.
- 1933
Expansion into mining
[1]The company entered gold, copper and manganese mining in the Katanga region.
- 1922
Transport company established in Katanga
[1]Malta Forrest founded l'Entreprise Générale Malta Forrest, the enterprise that formed the basis of the later Forrest Group.
Products and positioning
A diversified, privately controlled industrial group built around mining, engineering and infrastructure in Central Africa, with additional activities spanning energy, manufacturing, food and aviation.
Mining · 1933
Copper and cobalt mining
Mining and metallurgical activity has been central to the group's history, beginning with copper extraction in Katanga and later including cobalt-related work. The group worked with Gécamines on the Kasombo 1 cobalt deposit and carried out large-scale mining services in the Congolese copper belt.
Mining · 1933
Manganese mining
The group expanded into manganese during the 1930s and later undertook mining and civil-engineering work associated with the opening of the Kisenge manganese mine. Manganese formed part of the company's early diversification beyond transport and copper.
Infrastructure · 1951
Civil engineering and public works
Forrest Group companies have built and rehabilitated transport and municipal infrastructure, including roads, sewerage systems and airports. The group also undertook road-network restoration in Lubumbashi, Likasi, Kolwezi and Kalemie and participated in projects financed by international development institutions.
Energy
Energy projects
The group's reported portfolio includes wind-power and hydroelectric activities. Available reference material identifies these as areas of diversification but does not provide enough detail to specify individual facilities, capacities or commercial launch dates.
Building materials
Cement manufacturing
Cement manufacturing is one of the industrial activities attributed to the wider Forrest Group portfolio. The available source does not identify a specific cement brand, plant or product range.
Aviation · 2009
Aviation investment
In 2009, the group invested in Korongo Airlines with Brussels Airlines and Congolese investors. The investment was intended to support flights between Lubumbashi and Kinshasa, while further domestic expansion depended on airport improvements.
Controversies
2010
Luiswishi mine radiation and uranium allegations
Cables released through WikiLeaks were reported to allege that US officials had overlooked concerns about radiation at the Luiswishi mine and possible uranium separation from copper-and-cobalt ore. Groupe Forrest International denied the allegations, stating that uranium was present only at uneconomic concentrations and that radiation levels were below European standards.
2002
United Nations sanctions recommendation
A United Nations panel named the George Forrest Group among 29 companies it said should face sanctions for operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The available reference does not establish whether sanctions were imposed or describe a final adjudication.
Brand decisions
2009
Investment in Korongo AirlinesOtherBackground
The group sought to participate in regional aviation while transport infrastructure in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remained a constraint.
Action taken
Forrest Group invested in Korongo Airlines with Brussels Airlines and local investors for planned Lubumbashi–Kinshasa services.
Aftermath
Expansion to additional domestic routes was stated to depend on upgrades to airport infrastructure.
1995
Creation of a broader international groupStrategyBackground
The original enterprise had developed from transport into mining, engineering and public works, while political and economic conditions in Zaire had disrupted engineering activity.
Action taken
George Arthur Forrest created George Forrest International Group, creating a broader corporate framework for activities that later included mining, infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, food and aviation.
Aftermath
The Forrest Group subsequently operated through a diversified collection of businesses associated with Malta Forrest and George Forrest International.
Sources1 sources
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