• The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Minister of Digital Economy, Augustin Kibassa Maliba, met with Alibaba Group and Isoftstone Corporate officials in China.

• The discussions focused on adapting the Chinese e-commerce model for implementation in the DRC.

• The parties agreed to create a joint working group to formulate concrete proposals for e-commerce development.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Minister of Digital Economy, Augustin Kibassa Maliba, met with executives from Alibaba Group and Isoftstone Corporate, two major players in the digital sector. The meeting occurred on the sidelines of the Sino-African Forum on Economic, Trade, and Cultural Cooperation, held on November 7, 2025, in Jinhua, China.

The Ministry of Digital Economy reported the exchanges focused on the Chinese e-commerce model and its potential adaptation in the DRC. Participants addressed several key subjects, including regulation, technology, and establishing an effective digital ecosystem.

Consequently, the parties agreed to establish a joint working group. This group holds the mandate of deepening the reflection and formulating concrete proposals for e-commerce development in the DRC. The Ministry specified technical meetings will occur in the coming days. These meetings aim to finalize a strategic report for Minister Kibassa. This document will serve as the foundation for implementing a simplified and accessible national e-commerce model, particularly benefiting young Congolese entrepreneurs.

Alibaba Group, which Jack Ma founded in 1999, reaffirmed its interest in the African market. The Chinese giant considers the DRC a strategic hub for expanding its activities across the continent. Alibaba operates across online commerce, cloud computing, digital finance, logistics, and entertainment. The company utilizes platforms such as Alibaba.com, Taobao, Tmall, AliExpress, and Alipay, forming an integrated ecosystem connecting merchants, consumers, and service providers.

Founded in 2001, Isoftstone Group specializes in information technologies and digital transformation. The company provides solutions in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, big data, and smart cities. Isoftstone targets governments and companies operating in the telecommunications, energy, transport, finance, and health sectors.

This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum