Congo Trade Mission Nets US$12.22 Million In Trade

Lusaka, 11th November, 2024 — The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) has recorded business volumes amounting to US$12.22 Million from the recent Trade Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The breakdown comprised spot sales amounting to US$23.36 thousand, confirmed orders of US$998.3 thousand and trade leads worth US$11.20 Million.

The orders include the supply of cooking oil, tea, cleaning chemicals, treated poles, cereals, honey, groundnuts, fertilizer, cigarettes, engineering equipment, Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and services such as mining consultancy to DRC from 40 Zambian companies that participated in the 2024 Trade Mission.

In addition, the Trade Mission recorded leads for Zambian Companies to partner with DRC companies as a strategy to promote and sustain entry into the DRC market.

Commenting on the results of the Trade Mission, ZDA Director General Albert Halwampa emphasised that the DRC and Hauti Katanga Province, in particular, are an important market for Zambia.

Mr. Halwampa commended businesses that participated in the trade mission and urged them to ensure that they fulfill the orders and pursue leads to convert them into actual transactions and partnerships.

“The DRC continues to be a lucrative and accessible market for Zambian products including supermarket products, mining supplies, assorted agricultural inputs and PPE supplies,” noted Mr. Halwampa.

The objectives of the Trade Mission were to enhance Zambia‘s presence in the DRC; increase the number of companies with an understanding of the size and dynamics of the DRC Market; support companies to showcase their products, maintain the current foothold in the DRC market and establish new and future business relations; It was also an opportunity to undertake B2B meetings between Zambian companies and their Congolese counterparts.

The trade mission was held in Lubumbashi at the Hypnos Mall from the 16th to the 18th of October 2024 in the DRC.