Kinshasa Officially Launches DRC-UK Trade Partnership

Kinshasa, November 18, 2025 - Kinshasa, DRC - On Tuesday, November 25, 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United Kingdom officially inaugurated their new trade partnership, aimed at strengthening bilateral commerce and diversifying the Congolese economy.

The agreement allows Congolese spices, coffee, and cocoa to access the British market duty-free, marking a major step in reducing reliance on the mining sector. The ceremony was presided over by the Minister of Foreign Trade, Julien Paluku, and UK Ambassador Alyson King, highlighting the strategic importance of this initiative for both nations.

The partnership seeks to increase bilateral trade from $100 million to $1.5 billion by 2030, with 99.8% of Congolese exports now eligible for duty-free access to the United Kingdom. The inauguration also launched a trade support program, backed by the International Trade Centre, TradeMark Africa, and the British Standards Institute (BSI), designed to assist Congolese businesses in meeting international standards and maximizing the benefits of the agreement.

Minister Paluku emphasized that this program will be implemented nationally to support export capacity building, market competitiveness, and the sustainable diversification of the Congolese economy.