The President of the State and the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo

uae/congo

The President of the State and the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo

 His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Excellency Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, witnessed today the signing ceremony of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the two countries.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan affirmed that the agreement represents an important milestone in the course of economic relations between the two countries and embodies the UAE’s steadfast approach to building effective development partnerships that achieve economic growth and prosperity for all, in addition to expanding opportunities for future generations.

His Highness expressed his hope that the agreement would contribute to a qualitative shift in economic cooperation between the two countries by increasing trade and investment flows and stimulating mutual growth, in addition to contributing to achieving their shared development aspirations.

The agreement was signed, during a ceremony held at Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi, by His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, and His Excellency Julien Paluku Kahongya, Minister of International Trade of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The agreement aims to reduce customs duties and remove trade barriers, which will boost trade and investment flows and create opportunities to build new partnerships between the private sectors of both sides in key sectors including mining, agriculture and clean energy. The Democratic Republic of Congo’s GDP is around $70.75 billion, making it one of the top ten economies in Africa. With its position as a leading global producer of cobalt and a major source of base metals for the electric vehicle and energy transition sectors, the Democratic Republic of Congo offers opportunities for the UAE to expand trade in Central and East Africa.

 Democratic Republic of Congo reached $2.9 billion in 2025, registering an annual increase of 16.1%. With bilateral trade continuing to grow, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement is expected to contribute to strengthening 

economic cooperation, facilitating cross-border investments, and supporting small and medium enterprises in both countries. Through its position as a global trade hub, the UAE is working to strengthen relations with the Democratic Republic of Congo, contributing to shared prosperity and sustainable development.

The agreement is an important addition to the UAE’s network of trading partners. Under the umbrella of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements program, which was announced in September 2021, the country has so far completed more than 30 agreements, 14 of which have entered into force, reflecting its commitment to promoting open and rules-based global trade, which will drive economic growth and diversification.