Uganda and the Democraticrepulic of Congo have been holding a buisness forum in a bid to increase the volume and value of trade between the two neighbours, organisers said in a statement to APA on Monday.
Uganda Embassy in Kinshasa partnering with public and private sector stakeholders both in Uganda and DRC are holding a so-called Business Connect Forum and Expo in the city of Butembo, eastern DRC.
Under the theme “Strengthening Business Linkages for Socio-economic transformation,” the forum aims to connect businesses in both countries for mutually beneficial growth in trade and commerce.
Senior representatives of the two countries are discussing the existing barriers to trade and find workable solutions to speedily create a sustainable enabling environment for business to flourish.
Representing the DRC government are Julien Paluku, Minister of External Trade, Evariste Somo Kakule, Governor of North Kivu Province, and Sylvain Kanyamanda Mbusa, Mayor of Butembo city among others.
The Ugandan delegation includes Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, Minister of State for Trade, Alhajji Farid M. Kaliisa, Uganda’s ambassador to Kinshasa, senior officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, representatives from the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UNCCI), and members of the business community.
The Business Forum and Expo in Butembo has attracted over 50 business enterprises in various product lines and exhibitors from Uganda for business networking with DRC business community especially from Beni, Butembo, Kisangani, Goma and Bukavu.
Made-in-Uganda products being showcased include agro-products, poultry and dairy, agro-farm inputs, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, apparels and various construction materials.
Butembo is the second largest city in North Kivu Province, with a sizeable population of businesses that have links to as far as Kinshasa.
Uganda’s strategic location makes it a crucial gateway into and out of eastern DRC.
With support from the European Union and Trademark Africa (TMA), Uganda and DRC are implementing the Peaceful and Resilient Borderlands Program aimed at transforming cross-border trade into a pathway for peace and economic growth. The program seeks to promote regional integration, empower small-scale traders, and ensure the free movement of people and goods between the two countries.
The two countries are also jointly implementing the construction of key roads viewed as having mutual economic benefit. The roads include Mpondwe/Kasindi-Beni (80km), Beni-Butembo (54km) and Bunagana-Rutshuru-Goma road (89km). The road projects have opened accessibility of Ugandan products in several cities in eastern DRC. Once completed, the roads will reduce on the cost of doing business and create enormous opportunities for the people of both countries.
According to UBOS, the value of Uganda’s exports to DRC increased from $432.4 million in 2016/17 to $981.5 million in 2024/25. Similarly, DRC exports to Uganda have increased from US$23 billion in 2020 to US$ 59.8 billion in the year 2024.
This upward trajectory is attributed to improvement in the security environment, commencement of improvement in transport infrastructure as well as the opening up of the DRC market following entry into the East African Community.
WN/as/APA