DRC: Kinshasa strengthens its foreign trade with strategic support from UNCTAD
On the sidelines of the 9th United Nations Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection, held in Geneva from July 7 to 11, 2025, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) took a major step toward modernizing and revitalizing its foreign trade. Thanks to strengthened cooperation with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), a key partnership has been established to turn trade into a driving force for national development.
The creation of a joint DRC–UNCTAD commission, tasked with developing an operational roadmap, reflects the Congolese government’s determination to rely on credible partners to boost its trade capacity, diversify exports, and better integrate into regional and global value chains.
This partnership comes at a strategic time. Under the leadership of President Félix Tshisekedi, the DRC is working to reposition its economy by capitalizing on its natural and human resources. Foreign trade, when properly managed and optimized, can serve as a powerful lever for inclusive growth, job creation, and the financing of public policies.
With its strong technical expertise, UNCTAD will support the DRC in simplifying customs procedures, improving the business climate, and promoting productive investment. These are all key areas for making the DRC a major player in African trade within the framework of the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area).
