DRC–Australia: A strategic agricultural partnership in the making to conquer international markets
The Democratic Republic of Congo is actively pursuing its economic diplomacy. A high-level technical meeting was held last week in Kinshasa between the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Australian companies Great Lake Commodity and Stewarts Grain, marking a key step towards the conclusion of a win-win economic and trade partnership between the DRC and Australia.
Chaired by Benezeth Msafiri Kyakakala, chief of staff of the Minister of Foreign Trade, on behalf of Minister Julien Paluku Kahongya, this meeting is part of the dynamic of strengthening trade and promoting structuring investments, as advocated by the Congolese Government.
“The DRC is now open to serious investments capable of transforming locally, creating added value and positioning products made in DRC on international markets,” declared Benezeth Msafiri Kyakakala, welcoming the vision of Minister Julien Paluku Kahongya in terms of economic diplomacy.
Structuring agricultural investments in perspective
On a mission to identify business opportunities in the DRC, Great Lake Commodity and Stewarts Grain, two companies specializing in agribusiness, grain trading, livestock breeding and export, expressed their desire to invest sustainably in the Congolese agricultural sector. Already registered in the DRC, they have reassured the authorities of their technical and financial capacities.
With this in mind, the Congolese Government has made available to them a plot of land of 2,000 hectares located in the territory of Songololo, in the province of Kongo central, intended for the execution of high-impact agricultural projects.
“The improvement in the business climate is today a reality in the DRC, in particular thanks to the Investment Code, the Special Economic Zones regime and the elimination of so-called toxic taxes,” underlined the chief of staff of the Minister of Foreign Trade.
Promotion of Congolese products and opening of the Australian market
The expertise of Australian companies will also be used to strengthen the competitiveness of Congolese products on the Australian market. Technical support is planned for the benefit of the Congolese Control Office (OCC) as well as local producers, particularly in the soya, cassava and pepper sectors, in order to guarantee quality, conformity and the volumes required for export.
“We will support the DRC so that its products meet international standards and gain sustainable access to the Australian market,” said David Stewart and Daniel Kasereka Birere, senior executives of Great Lake Commodity and Stewarts Grain.
Furthermore, the latter announced that Australian milk and meat will be exported to the DRC within a short time.
“Kinshasa, with more than 15 million consumers, constitutes a strategic market for our products,” they specified.
Towards a DRC–Australia Economic Forum in Canberra
In order to accelerate the realization of this partnership, a joint technical commission, made up of experts from the Congolese Government and the two companies, was set up. Its mission will be to develop an operational roadmap and prepare the organization of the DRC-Australia Economic Forum, planned soon in Canberra, the Australian capital.
This emerging partnership constitutes a strong signal of the DRC’s ambition to establish itself as a major player in regional and international agricultural trade.
