DRC and Angola push for deeper economic integration at Kinshasa forum

Kinshasa April 1, 2026 - The third edition of the Democratic Republic of Congo-Angola Economic Forum opened in Kinshasa with calls for concrete commitments to accelerate cross-border trade and strengthen regional economic integration. Held under the theme “Sub-regional Integration and the Development of Cross-Border Trade,” the forum brought together government officials, private sector leaders, and economic experts from both countries to build on earlier editions held in Kinshasa and Luanda in 2023. Opening the discussions, Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Daniel Mukoko Samba stressed the importance of aligning bilateral cooperation with the broader objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to boost trade across the continent. He outlined three key priorities for the discussions: reducing informal cross-border trade, improving payment systems between the two countries, and promoting joint infrastructure and industrial projects to support long-term economic cooperation. Officials from both sides expressed expectations for tangible outcomes, including new investments, joint ventures, and sectoral agreements in strategic areas such as energy, hydrocarbons, fisheries, and cross-border electricity supply. Government representatives emphasized that while states are responsible for creating a conducive regulatory environment, the private sector plays a central role in driving investment, innovation, and job creation. The forum is expected to serve as a platform for strengthening economic ties between Kinshasa and Luanda, while advancing broader regional integration objectives across Central and Southern Africa.