This archive report was first published on 23 December 2021.
On December 21, 2021, the Vice-Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), H.E Eve Bazaiba, officially launched the Kenya-DRC Trade Mission in Kinshasa, DRC. The mission, a 15-day business networking initiative, is organized by the governments of Kenya and DRC in partnership with Equity Group.
The trade mission brings together Kenyan and DRC investors and entrepreneurs to explore opportunities in DRC and the Great Lakes Region. The mission will be held in four of DRC's biggest cities: Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Goma, and Mbuji Mayi.
During the official opening ceremony, H.E Eve Bazaiba expressed her delight in seeing two sovereign states from the East and Central Africa region championing the growth and integration of Africa through trade and investment.
"I am delighted to see that what began as a discussion between the DRC President H.E President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo and Kenyan President H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, to strengthen the relations between our two countries through trade and investments, formally kick off through this trade mission," she said.
The Trade Mission comes at a time when DRC has received approval from the EAC Council of Ministers to join the trading bloc, a move that is expected to open up the country and the region to fair competition and trade.
Kenya Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Industrialization and Enterprise Development Hon. Betty Maina also spoke at the opening ceremony, urging Kenyan SMEs to consider the DRC as a market for regional expansion.
"As Kenya Government, we are encouraging Kenyan SMEs to consider the DRC as a market for regional expansion. Kenya and the DRC already have existing trade relations and this Trade Mission will further enhance pairing local Kenyan entrepreneurs to local DRC businesses," she said.
Minister of Foreign Trade Jean Lucien Bussa also spoke at the opening ceremony, highlighting the opportunities for local entrepreneurs to create market linkages with Kenyan businesses.
Equity Group has played a key role in the planning and execution of the Trade Mission and has availed its manpower and infrastructure to support entrepreneurs from both countries.
