The first phase of development at the Kin-Malebo Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is nearing completion, with 80% of construction work finished, the Industrial Promotion Fund (FPI) said.

The update came after a site visit on December 6, 2025, by FPI Director General Hervé-Claude Ntumba Batukonke. The project is located in Kinshasa’s N’Sele municipality, about 40 km from the city centre and 10 km from Ndjili International Airport.

ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) announced a public-private partnership with the Democratic Republic of Congo for the development of the SEZ in September 2022. At the time, the company said the project would involve an estimated $200 million investment, with a 60% stake held by ARISE and 40% by the state, and would generate around 20,000 direct and indirect jobs. The zone was also expected to attract about $850 million in private investment across multiple sectors.

Figures for the site’s size have varied since the project’s launch. ARISE initially put the area at 514 hectares at the time of the partnership agreement, while the Congolese Agency for Major Works (ACGT) refers to 497 hectares. ARISE’s official platform now lists 528 hectares for the first phase.

ARISE said the initial phase is expected to include wood processing, poultry production and beverage manufacturing for the local market, as well as companies operating in pharmaceuticals, plastic recycling, household appliances, electric vehicles and other processing industries.

In July 2025, the Ministry of Industry said the zone would be inaugurated before the end of the year, adding that several companies had already secured plots within the industrial area.

ARISE had initially planned to begin construction in October 2022, one month after signing the partnership, with operations starting in October 2023. However, the ACGT said site development work did not begin until April 2024. No explanation was given for the delay.

ARISE IIP describes itself as a pan-African developer and operator of industrial parks and currently manages 12 special economic zones in countries including Rwanda, Gabon, Togo and Benin.

Timothée Manoke