The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the AfCFTA

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) signed the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTFA) in 2018 and approved it in April 2021, and submitted its instruments of ratification to the African Union (AU) in February 2022.

Trade plays an important role in the DRC’s economy, contributing an average of 52% to its GDP annually over the decade to 2024. The country is already a member of several regional economic communities: the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

It is widely believed that the AfCFTA could help the DRC play a key role in the development of regional value chains in the manufacturing and agri-food industries by supplying key mineral and agricultural products to the continent. Its unique geographical position also means it could be a bridge to connect the four regional economic blocs – SADC, EAC, ECCAS and COMESA – to the rest of Africa.

How the DRC is preparing the ground for the AfCFTA

At a national level, the DRC has taken positive steps towards AfCFTA implementation, notably by conducting multi-stakeholder consultations and finalising its national AfCFTA strategy in July 2021. This includes identifying export products for African markets and creating specific action plans with clear timelines and targets.

In the DRC, the GIZ’s AfCFTA programme aims to help the DRC diversify its economy and access wider market opportunities on the continent.

It will focus on supporting the DRC in selected areas of negotiations on and implementation of the AfCFTA; training key stakeholders; supporting national enterprises to take better advantage of the opportunities offered by the AfCFTA; and strengthening synergies with other development partners in the DRC.

In the DRC the programme focuses on:

Strengthening institutions for strategic steering and coordination at continental, regional and national levels

Facilitating negotiations on trade-in-services liberalisation

Creating capacity to implement commitments under trade in goods (TiG) and facilitating negotiations

Supporting preparation for Phase II negotiations, specifically on investment, competition policy and digital trade

Promoting sustainability approaches for social, ecological and participatory trade negotiations and implementation of the AfCFTA

What we have achieved so far

GIZ’s AfCFTA support programme to the DRC kicked off in 2022 and includes the following assistance:

The establishment of a National Steering Committee in 2022 and the provision of technical assistance

In collaboration with the General Directorate of Customs and Excise, customs officers have been trained on rules of origin

Several workshops to sensitise partners to challenges and the implementation mechanism of the AfCFTA have been organised and will continue

“We will not be able to complete the process today, but we have decided to compile our energies and our forces in order to have a free trade agreement zone that will help Africans to enhance trade in Africa.”

– DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, quoted by the United States Institute of Peace on 22 July 2021

Our partners in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Political partner: Ministry of Foreign Trade

Main implementing partners:

General Directorate of Customs and Excise

Private sector stakeholders:

The Congolese Federation of Enterprises

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