DRC-EU
Signing of a memorandum of understanding on the electric vehicle project in Brussels: A memorandum of understanding was signed Thursday, in Brussels, between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the European Union on the project of developing a value chain around the industry batteries and electric vehicles, the ACP learned from an official source. “The major pan-African battery and electric vehicle industry project initiated by the Democratic Republic of Congo is attracting more major powers and major industrialists.
Original article source: https://acp.cd/economie/rdc-ue-signature-dun-protocole-daccord-sur-le-projet-vehicules-electriques-a-bruxelles/
DRC-Tunisia: signing of a protocol on the implementation of PT-NTIC projects
The memorandum of understanding with the Tunisian consortium Sotracom is part of cooperation between the two parties, on several projects including technical advice as part of the implementation of multifaceted projects in the fields of posts, telecommunications and news information and communication technologies as well as in the connectivity and transport support project (PACT) PT-NTIC component
Original article link: https://acp.cd/economie/rdc-tunisie-signature-dun-protocole-sur-la-mise-en-oeuvre-des-projets-pt-ntic/
A new $850m route to speed up Congo’s copper exports
An $850 million road project connecting copper and cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo through Zambia to an East African port will cut more than 150 miles from the existing journey, according to the company building it.
Original article link: https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/africa/a-new-850m-route-to-speed-up-congos-copper-exports/
"La Kinoise", the homegrown coffee in the DR Congo reviving business
A young entrepreneur in the Democratic Republic of Congo has opened up a coffee factory that is helping revive the coffee industry in Kinshasa, the capital of the central African nation. The aroma of freshly ground coffee wafts through the air in the Kingabwa neighbourhood of Kinshasa. Staff at the "Cafe La Kinoise" factory is busy processing it. As such is the impact of the young entrepreneur, Tisya Mukuna. Her company is not just providing coffee; it is providing jobs to many Congolese citizens. Her company recently introduced mobile coffee carts to target people on the move
Original article link: https://www.africanews.com/2023/05/05/la-kinoise-the-homegrown-coffee-in-the-dr-congo-reviving-business/
Democratic Republic of Congo Becomes the 7th Member of EAC
After several negotiations, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has finally become a full-fledged member of the East African Community. The EAC was established in 1967, as an inter-governmental organization composed of seven countries in the African Great Lakes region in East Africa. The EAC has its headoffice located in Arusha, Tanzania.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is now an official member of the East African Community (EAC) after depositing instruments of ratification on the accession of the EAC Treaty with the bloc’s secretariat, according to the statement obtained from Arusha, Tanzania.
It further stated that, at a function held this July 11 at the EAC headquarters in Arusha, the DR Congo delegation led by its Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Christophe Lutundula Apala Pen’ Apala, completed the final step in joining the regional bloc.
“This is a formalization of a situation that has always been in existence. Somehow, we can say the DRC joined their people,” said Apala Pen’ Apala. “In the name of the DRC, all the institutions and the people of Congo, we totally trust the EAC.”
He, however, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to being part of the Community and joining the various areas of cooperation in all the sectors, programmes and activities that promote the four pillars of regional integration – the Customs Union, Common Market Protocol, Monetary Union and the Political Federation.
“Today marks the completion by the DRC of the processes and procedures towards becoming a full-fledged member of the EAC,” said Dr Peter Mathuki, EAC Secretary-General. “Article 11 of the Treaty of Accession by the DRC to the EAC Treaty provides that the Accession Treaty shall enter into force on the date the DRC deposits the instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General of the EAC. So, I am very happy to declare that, this day 11th July 2022, the DRC has become the 7th Partner State of the EAC.”
The EAC key mission is to widen and deepen economic, political, social and cultural integration to improve the quality of life of the people of East Africa through increased competitiveness, value added production, trade and investments. The East African Community is a regional inter-governmental organization comprising the following republics: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan and Uganda.
Orginal Article Link: https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2022/07/20/democratic-republic-of-congo-becomes-the-7th-member-of-eac/
Kinshasa enters shipping business, set to rock EA boats
A vessel docks at the port of Dar es Salaam. The DR Congo says it has obtained yard spaces in Mombasa and Dar es Salaam to roll out offices for its new shipping line, The Lignes Maritimes Congolaises, that will start operations from June. PHOTO | AFP
The Democratic Republic of Congo is entering shipping business with eyes on East Africa’s two biggest ports in Kenya and Tanzania, signalling further intent by the bloc’s newest member to ease its importation channels.
This week, officials from Kinshasa announced they had obtained yard spaces in Mombasa and Dar es Salaam to roll out offices for DR Congo’s new shipping line: The Lignes Maritimes Congolaises (LMC) that will start operations from June.
The decision that came just about a month after the DR Congo was formally admitted into the East African Community reflects the country’s desire to tap into the benefits of being in the trade bloc, where it is now cheaper and easier to import as tariffs are headed for reduction.
The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) is banking on the admission of the DR Congo to the East African Community to increase its business market in the region.
LMC, the state-owned shipping line mandated with maritime transport and the operation of marine vessels in DRC, is targeting to channel more import-export cargo through the Port of Mombasa, as well as raise volumes in Dar.
The LMC delegation led by director Banze Nkulu Mulunda and other government officials agreed to open office at the Port of Mombasa to coordinate imports and exports from their country.
Orginal Article Link: https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/business/kinshasa-enters-shipping-business-3822264
DRC State-owned shipping line to set base in Mombasa
A shipping line from the Democratic Republic of Congo plans to start its operations from Mombasa beginning June this year.
The state-owned shipping line, the Lignes Maritimes Congolaises (LMC) seeks to channel more DRC imports and exports cargo through the Port of Mombasa.
A delegation from DRC led by the shipping line director LMC Dr Banze Nkulu Mulunda agreed to open an office at the Mombasa port to coordinate imports and exports from their country.
“After a discussion on operational and logistics issues with KPA container terminal principal operations officer Michael Bokole and his team, we have agreed to start our operations from Mombasa starting next month. This will help in creating more jobs and business opportunities not only for DRC but to Kenya,” said Dr Mulunda.
Mr Bokole welcomed the delegation, saying it was a big milestone in the integration of DRC into the EAC community and bolstering trade opportunities.
“The DRC recently joined the EAC community bolstering trade opportunities among member states who are keen to increase intra-EAC trade and benefit from the common market. Their coming to Mombasa will increase both import and export of goods through the port,” said Mr Bokole.
During the visit by DRC team, they agreed LCM will be responsible for collecting royalties from shipping lines that carry cargo to and from the DRC.
As the country expects to increase its business after joining EAC community on April this year, LMC has adequately addressed the issue of storage, traceability and security of its products.
DRC comes into the bloc with a huge market of 90 million people and the potential to contribute to an expanded market and investment opportunities to boost the EAC common market.
Already, Kinshasa has bilateral and multilateral cooperation arrangements with EAC partner states in various areas, including customs, infrastructure and productive and social sectors.
The DRC is a member of various regional organisations including the Southern African Development Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern African, the Economic Community of Central African States, the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries and International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.
At the continental level, it is a member of the African Union, while at the global level it is a member of the United Nations and has ratified most of its affiliated instruments.
Orginal Article Link: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/corporate/shipping-logistics/drc-state-owned-shipping-line-to-set-base-in-mombasa-3811000
52 ZAMBIAN BUSINESSES IN DRC FOR TRADE:
The first cohort of over 52 representatives of Zambian companies has arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ready to talk business with their Congolese business counterparts.
The delegation is led by Zambia Development Agency (ZDA ) Acting Director General Albert Halwampa, ZDA Director Enterprise Development Gabriel Musentekwa, ZDA Acting Director Export Development Obby Banda, Embassy of Finland Trade and Economic Adviser Jenna Kirkkari, Accelerated Growth for Micro, Small and Medium sized Enterprises in Zambia ( AGS Programme) Business Partnership Expert Anna Erkkila.
DA Export Development Specialist Chisenga Lufungulo and other ZDA officers made sure the samples/products to be showcased by the Zambian companies at the exhibition, crossed the border safely. The trade mission is slated for October 20 to 22, 2021.
The companies are in DR Congo, courtesy of ZDA, Government of Finland through the Accelerated Growth for Micro Small and Medium sized Enterprises in Zambia Programme, ABSA Bank Zambia PLC and Federation des Entreprises du Congo, to secure market access for their products. The Zambian companies will have business to business meetings with the Congolese and also showcase their products at the exhibition.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry Mushuma Mulenga, Finnish Ambassador to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Democratic Republic of Congo Pirjo Suomela Chowdhury, AGS Programme Team Leader Gareth Evans, representatives from ABSA Bank PLC have also joined the delegation.
The aim of the trade mission is to secure market access for Zambian products.
The DR Congo Trade Mission is part of the implementation of the N8+1 Export Strategy to increase non traditional exports (NTEs) in the region, particularly in the low hanging fruit markets of DR Congo, Angola and South Africa.
Orginal Article Link: https://zambiareports.com/2021/10/20/52-zambian-businesses-drc-trade/
Caltex Starts Manufacturing Local Lubricants In Kenya:
FAL Manufacturing Limited (AML), which is owned by Tristar Group, has officially launched the local manufacturing of Caltex lubricants in East Africa a month after signing a license agreement with Chevron Brands International LLC to produce, distribute and market Caltex lubricants in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Tristar Group CEO Eugene Mayne, who spoke during the launch, said that local manufacturing will add value to enable the firm to take the Caltex lubricants brand to a strong market position by supplying high-quality lubricants backed by competitive prices and service.
“We are confident that with more than eight years of local market knowledge, we are confident that there is a growing need for high quality lubricants in the region and we are extremely pleased with this move to be able to sell and distribute locally manufactured, cutting edge Caltex lubricants,” Mayne said.
During the initial stage, Caltex lubricants that will be blended locally are Havoline and Delo engine oils.
Douglas Rankine, the firm’s General Manager Middle East and Africa – Fuels & Lubricants. said the “Caltex Delo advanced products are designed to deliver high-level engine and transmission protection with optimized fuel economy, for improved running costs, less downtime, and helps to save money.
In 2013, Chevron signed a lubricants distribution agreement with Africa Fuels & Lubricants Limited, an affiliate of AML.
“The success of this new brand licensing model is anchored by the strong equity we have in our brands and a focus on implementing a compelling customer experience through our integrated fuels and lubricants business and strategic partnerships. We look forward to a long, and successful relationship with AML,” said Rachna Kaul, Vice President, Europe, Africa, Middle East, South Asia Sales & Global Marine.
Douglas Rankine, GM Middle East & Africa – Fuels & Lubricants. added that “as part of this new relationship with AML, Chevron is excited to grow the Caltex brand across Eastern Africa and will continue to explore future growth opportunities in new and existing markets.
Orginal Article Link: https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/2021/10/caltex-starts-manufacturing-local-lubricants-in-kenya/
DRC: Clean-Seas to Generate Electricity From Plastic Waste via Pyrolysis
Clean-Seas, a provider of waste management technology solutions, have been selected to build a waste-to-energy plastics plant using pyrolysis technology in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The project aims to produce 96 MWh of electricity per year.
The plastic waste-to-energy project in Kinshasa can begin. On August 3rd, 2021, Hamden, the consultancy firm piloting the project in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), announced the name of the company that will build the new plant. According to the agreement signed with the group’s managing director Manu Mabengo Tsumbu, Clean-Seas will also operate the future plant for a period of 30 years. The company provides technological solutions for waste management. The subsidiary of the Clean Vision Corporation group will use pyrolysis technology to recover plastic waste in Kinshasa. The process involves heating plastic waste to over 400°C in a first tank to obtain a synthesis gas. The fuel is then used to power electric generators.
In the DR-Congolese capital of 15 million inhabitants, the daily production of solid waste is estimated at 9,000 tonnes. Most of this waste is plastic. Clean-Seas plans to convert 200 tonnes of used plastics every day.
A $30 million project
The electricity produced by the future plant will be fed into the national grid. Clean-Seas will produce 15,000 litres of diesel fuel, 3,500 litres of industrial lubricants and three metric tonnes of coal. This will generate 70,000 metric tons of carbon credits in the city of Kinshasa. Clean-Seas will also train local staff to operate the plant.
The project developed in Kinshasa will also contribute to the fight against plastic pollution. Its full implementation will require an investment of US$30 million. The project will be financed by Clean-Seas with loans from development partners. The company is already in “active discussions” with suitable investors, says Dan Bates, Clean Vision Corporation’s managing director.
Orginal Article Link: https://www.afrik21.africa/en/drc-clean-seas-to-generate-electricity-from-plastic-waste-via-pyrolysis/