By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday formalised their economic partnership with the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), witnessed by DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and his UAE counterpart, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
His Highness bin Zayed noted that the agreement signed at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi marks a significant milestone in the economic relationship between the two nations and reflects the UAE’s consistent approach to building effective development partnerships that drive economic growth and prosperity for all, while also expanding opportunities for future generations.
He expressed hope that the agreement would mark a major step forward in economic cooperation between the UAE and DRC by boosting trade and investment flows, stimulating mutual growth, and supporting their shared development goals.
The CEPA was signed by the UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, while DRC Minister for International Trade, Julien Paluku Kahongya signed on behalf of his country.
The agreement will reduce tariffs and eliminate trade barriers between both countries, significantly enhancing investment flows and creating opportunities for private sector collaboration across key sectors, including mining, agriculture, and clean energy.
The DRC’s GDP stands at approximately $70.75 billion, making it one of Africa’s top ten economies. With its position as a world-leading producer of cobalt and a major source of essential minerals for the electric vehicle and energy transition sectors, the DRC offers a strategic entry point for expanding trade across Central and Eastern Africa.
UAE-DRC non-oil trade reached $2.9 billion in the first nine months of 2025, marking a 16.1% increase year-on-year.
As bilateral trade continues to grow, the CEPA is expected to strengthen economic cooperation, facilitate cross-border investments, and empower small and medium-scale enterprises in both countries.
Both leaders also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on investment cooperation in the mining sector, as well as an MoU between the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and the Congolese Diplomatic Academy under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and the Francophonie of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
