Market Brief on DRC Jan 2018 Location Facts and Figures Total Population 84.13 million (2016) The Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as DR Congo, DRC, DROC, RDC, Congo-, or simply Congo is a country located in Central Africa. The country was known as Zaire from 1971 to 1997. Countries bordering DRC are: Angola, Republic of the Congo, Central African Republican, Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Zambia. Area Time Zone Capital City International Telephone Code Currency Exchange Rate (02/02/18) GDP (2017 est.) GDP per capita (2017 est.) GDP Growth Rate (2017 est.) Ease of Doing Business (World Bank 2017) Inflation Rate (2017 est.) 2 344 858 sq. km +1 hrs GMT +243 Congolese Franc 1US$: 1,565.50 Congolese Franc US$41.9 Billion US$483.4 4.3% 184/190 2.7% Cities and Population Official Language(s) French City Lubumbashi Population 11.587 million 2.015 million Other Languages Business Hours Lingala, Kingwana, Kikongo, Tshiluba 0830 hrs-1600 hrs Lunch 1300-1400 hrs Mbuji- Mayi 2.007 million Kananga 1.169 million Kisangani 1.04 million Bukau 832 000 Banking Hours 0830 hrs-1600 hrs (weekdays) 0830-1200 (Sat) Literacy Rate 63. Measures Metric System Important International Participation UN, AU, SADC, COMESA, WTO
US$'000 DRC Trade with the World 9,000,000 8,000,000 7,000,000 6,000,000 5,000,000 4,000,000 3,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000-2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Imports 6,366,910 7,164,513 6,994,819 5,812,036 3,700,583 Exports 7,160,976 8,171,435 8,375,248 6,313,204 4,521,633 Major import sources of DRC (2016) Major export destinations of DRC (2016) 5% 1% 3% 1 27% 1% 3% 46% 6% 7% 21% 7% 10% 11% 11% China SA Belgium France India Rwanda Germany Netherlands USA Italy Other China Korea, Republic of Spain Italy SA other Saudi Arabia Belgium USA Germany India
US$'000' Major import products of DRC (2016) Major export products of DRC (2016) 15% 7. 6. 5.9% 2.0% 0.9% 0. 0.3% 0.3% 1. 39% 11% 17.0% 9% 3% 5% 7% Machinery Electrical machinery & equipment Pharmaceutical products Vehicles Articles of iron or steel Mineral fuels, mineral oils Plastics and articles thereof Meat and edible meat offal Cereals Copper and articles thereof Other base metals; articles thereof Ores, slag and ash Mineral fuels, mineral oils Pearls, precious stones & metals wood & charcoal Commodities not elsewhere specified Cocoa and cocoa preparations Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits Coffee, tea, maté and spices other 57.3% Zimbabwe- DRC Trade 18,000 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000-2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Imports 89 105 829 64 12 Exports 16,343 11,541 4,394 3,688 65 Trade Balance 16,254 11,436 3,565 3,624 53
Zimbabwe s major exports to DRC (2016) Products Zimbabwe Major exports to DRC in 2016 (US$ 000) DRC Imports from the World in 2016 (US$ 000) Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock and parts and accessories thereof Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp of paper or of paperboard 60 241,583 4 35,850 Zimbabwe products with export potential to DRC (2016) Zimbabwe's imports from DRC Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes Pharmaceutical Products Meat and edible meat offals Textile articles Sugar and Sugar confectioneries Furniture Footwear, gaiters Cotton Soaps and Lubricants Cereals Iron and steel and articles thereof Plastics and Articles thereof Animal, vegetable fats and oils Dairy products, eggs and honey Paper and paper board Vegetable, fruit, nuts Aluminium and articles thereof Fertilizers 75% Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof Articles of iron or steel Commodities not elsewhere specified other Source: TradeMap Statistics
Useful Addresses Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe in DRC No4. Ave de La Justice Immeuble Ogedep Tel: +243 81 3602073 Fax: +243 81 556 3485 E-mail: zimkinshasa@zimfa.gov.zw Consulate of the Republic of Zimbabwe Consul General 2732 Kamanyola Avenue, de-la revolution 1 st Floor Badianyama Building Kamanyola Lubumbashi Tel: +243 991 402002; 823 644141 E-mail: zimlubumbashi@zimfa.gov.zw Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Zimbabwe 5 Pevensey Road Highlands Harare Tel: +263 4 496421 Fax: +263 4 496421 E-mail: embcongo@yahoo.fr Website: www.embaddrcongo.co.zw Chamber of Commerce in DRC (Federation des Enterprises du Congo) FEC 10 avenues des aviateus Commune de la Gombe BP 7247 Kin 1 DRC Tel: +243 81 2488890 Fax: +243 242 97 800660 E-mail: fec@fec.cd; feccongo2@yahoo.fr Website: www.fec.cd Trade Fairs in DRC DRC Mining week 23-24 June 2017 Lumbumbashi Tel: +27 21 7003500/ 13/16/36 Fax: +27 21 7003501 Email: Le-ann.hare@spintellingent.com Website: www.spintelligent.com SADC Trade Protocol Preferential Trade Arrangements Zimbabwe and DRC are both members of the SADC Protocol. The Protocol is an agreement between SADC Member States to reduce customs duties and other barriers to trade on products from each other. By January 1, 2008, most customs duties (on 85% of tariff lines) had been eliminated for goods originating from SADC Member States. COMESA Free Trade Area The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is a regional integration grouping of African States which have agreed to promote regional integration through trade development and to develop their natural and human resources for the mutual benefit of all their peoples. COMESA Member States established a Free Trade Area (FTA) on 31 October 2000. Fourteen States (Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Sudan, Seychelles, Zambia and Zimbabwe) are participating in the Free Trade Area. COMESA Simplified Trade Regime COMESA implemented the Simplified Trade Regime (STR) to help the small trader to benefit from the preferential rates enjoyed by commercial traders when importing or exporting goods within the COMESA Bloc. The regime is operational between Zimbabwe and Zambia, and Zimbabwe and Malawi. The maximum value of goods traded under STR is US$1 000. STR is used for goods that have been grown or wholly produced in the COMESA Region. The trader will complete a simplified customs document (declaration form) and a simplified COMESA certificate of origin. These documents are filled in at the border post by the trader and certified by a customs official. Goods to be exported should comply with the normal food safety, plant and animal health regulations including environmental protection. Import or export permits needed to import or export certain agricultural foods and animal products are still required. For more information on trading under COMESA FTA, COMESA STR and SADC Trade Protocol refer to ZimTrade s Guide to Zimbabwe s Trade Agreements.
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