The UAE and Democratic Republic of Congo have formalized their economic partnership through the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, emphasized that the agreement represents a major milestone in the economic ties between the two countries.
It highlights the UAE’s ongoing commitment to fostering strong development partnerships that promote economic growth and prosperity for all, while also creating new opportunities for future generations.
His Highness expressed his hope that the agreement would mark a major step forward in economic cooperation between the UAE and DRC by boosting trade and investment flows, stimulating mutual growth, and supporting their shared development goals.
The agreement will reduce tariffs and eliminate trade barriers, significantly enhancing investment flows and creating opportunities for private sector collaboration across key sectors, including mining, agriculture, and clean energy.
The DRC’s GDP stands at approximately $70.75 billion, making it one of Africa’s top ten economies. With its position as a world-leading producer of cobalt and a major source of essential minerals for the electric vehicle and energy transition sectors, the DRC offers a strategic entry point for expanding trade across Central and Eastern Africa.
UAE-DRC non-oil trade reached $2.9 billion in the first nine months of 2025, marking a 16.1 percent increase year-on-year. As bilateral trade continues to grow, the CEPA is poised to strengthen economic cooperation, facilitate cross-border investments, and empower small and medium-sized enterprises in both countries. The UAE is committed to leveraging its global trade hub status to foster deeper ties with the DRC, promoting shared prosperity and sustainable development.
This agreement is another valuable addition to the UAE’s ambitious foreign trade agenda, which aims to boost non-oil foreign trade to $1.1 trillion by 2031. The CEPA program, with over 30 agreements concluded and 14 in force, highlights the UAE’s dedication to fostering open and rules-based global trade that will drive economic growth and diversification.
His Highness the President and His Excellency Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on investment cooperation in the mining sector, as well as an MoU between the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and the Congolese Diplomatic Academy under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and the Francophonie of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
