Over 2,000 Kenyan And DRC Entrepreneurs Registered For The 15-Day Trade Mission In DRC

The Vice-Prime Minister of DRC who is also the Minister of Environment H.E Eve Bazaiba officially opened the Kenya – DRC Trade Mission 2021, a 15-day business networking initiative organized by the governments of Kenya and DRC in partnership with Equity Group counterparts in DRC.

The networking initiative is being organized in exploring opportunities that have the potential to Unlock Trade, Tourism, and Investment opportunities in DRC and the Great Lakes Region.

The trade mission, which brings together Kenyan and DRC investors and entrepreneurs, is currently being held in four of DRC’s biggest cities that is, Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma, and Mbuji Mayi. SMEs will have an opportunity to explore opportunities in DRC through business forums and panel discussions moderated by experts in various fields, site visits to various businesses and locations of interest, networking sessions, and trade exhibitions that will allow businesses to showcase their products and services.

Speaking during the official opening ceremony, the Vice-Prime Minister of DRC H.E Eve Bazaiba expressed delight in seeing two sovereign States from the East and Central Africa region championing the growth and integration of Africa through trade and investment.

“I am delighted to see that what began as a discussion between the DRC President H.E President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo and Kenyan President H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, to strengthen the relations between our two countries through trade and investments, formally kick off through this trade mission. This Mission has sparked interest amongst the business community and the turnout here in Kinshasa is a clear indication that DRC is ready and open to growing its economy through working with both the private and public sectors. As a country, we hope to leverage on existing infrastructure including the trade corridors to create regional supply chains in form of human expertise, raw material, and processed and packaged goods.”

The Trade Mission comes at a time when DRC has received approval from the EAC Council of Ministers to join the trading bloc, a move that is expected to open up the country and the region to fair competition and trade.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony, Kenya Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Industrialization and Enterprise Development Hon. Betty Maina said, “As Kenya Government, we are encouraging Kenyan SMEs to consider the DRC as a market for regional expansion. Kenya and the DRC already have existing trade relations and this Trade Mission will further enhance paring local Kenyan entrepreneurs to local DRC businesses. We urge our entrepreneurs to keep an open mind, to engage with us during the discussions, and most of all to explore opportunities for growth in agriculture, education, health, sports, environment, SMEs, housing, energy, and infrastructure development.”

The Trade Mission follows bilateral agreements between Kenya and the DRC aimed at enhancing trade and the movement of people and goods that was signed by H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta and H.E President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier in April 2021.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Foreign Trade Jean Lucien Bussa said, “DRC is happy to work with Kenya and our local SMEs have an opportunity to create market linkages with Kenyan businesses. The DRC imports well over 2 billion dollars worth of basic commodities and this is a clear indication that investors from Kenya can tap into this space. Other than minerals, we have a vibrant agricultural sector and are also heavily involved in cosmetics and textiles and the service industry amongst others. This is an opportunity for local entrepreneurs to match with other businesses like theirs in Kenya.”