The Maluku Special Economic Zone (SEZ), located about 70 kilometers northeast of Kinshasa, is being equipped with a river dock to improve freight logistics, the Special Economic Zones Agency (AZES) said in a statement on March 16, 2026.

Inaugurated on March 13, the facility was financed by Saphir Ceramics, a manufacturer of tiles and ceramic products. It is intended to facilitate shipments to Congo-Brazzaville and to other provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo served by river routes. Company officials said the dock would also support export operations for other businesses in the Maluku SEZ.

Several companies are already operating in the zone, including Varun Beverages RDC; Sopaco, which processes agricultural products; K Timber in logging; Eben Ezer International, active across several industrial sectors including paper; and Hema Beverage and Refriango in the agri-food sector.

Saphir Ceramics has also led export activity. In March 2025, the Chinese-owned company shipped more than 300,000 square meters of tiles to Congo-Brazzaville. The first of its kind in the DRC, it has an estimated production capacity of 70,000 square meters per day.

Ronsard Luabeya