The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will soon start building four one-stop ports in South Kivu province to ease trade with Burundi. The announcement came on July 22 after a meeting in Kinshasa between Julien Paluku, DRC's Minister for Foreign Trade, and project coordinator Thierry Kayembe. They selected Kavimvira, Nyamoma, Rubenga, and Kamanyola as the sites for the ports.
The ports form part of the Trade Facilitation and Integration Project for the Great Lakes Region (PFCIGL). The World Bank funds the $250 million project, allocating $152 million to the DRC, $90 million to Burundi, and $8 million to COMESA. The project follows the trade agreement signed by the DRC and Burundi in Kinshasa on April 29, 2022.
In the DRC, the program aims to upgrade basic trade infrastructure to promote cross-border commerce. It will modernize the border posts at Kavimvira, Nyamoma, Rubenga, and Kamanyola. The project also includes building and improving border markets in Bunagana, Bukavu, Kavimvira, and Kasindi; upgrading lake ports at Kalundu and Idjwi; rehabilitating roads near Nyamoma and Rubenga border posts; and constructing a bridge over the Ruzizi River at Kiliba to improve connectivity between the DRC and Burundi.
The one-stop ports will centralize technical services at border crossings, making trade formalities easier for traders in North and South Kivu. The Office congolais de contrôle (OCC) and Burundi’s Bureau of Standards will soon sign a memorandum of understanding to simplify trade procedures further. This collaboration will focus initially on the Kavimvira-Gatumba border post. It forms part of the Simplified Trade Regime (RECOS), which helps small cross-border traders.
Starting August 15, the town of Uvira will launch subsidy programs to strengthen high-potential export value chains. These programs will mainly help women and young people who organize themselves in cooperatives or associations. According to Thierry Kayembe, beneficiaries will rotate, ensuring fair distribution of support.
Ronsard Luabeya, intern
