Market Brief on DRC May 2016 Location Facts and Figures Total Population 67.51 million (2013) Area Time Zone Capital City International Telephone Code Currency 2 344 858 sq. km +1 hrs GMT +243 Congolese Franc Exchange Rate 1US$: 927.756 Congolese Franc The Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as DR Congo, DRC, DROC, RDC, Congo-, or simply Congo is a country located in Central Africa. The country was known as Zaire from 1971 to 1997. Countries bordering DRC are: Angola, Republic of the Congo, Central African Republican, Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Zambia. GDP (2015 est.) GDP per capita (2015 est.) GDP Growth Rate (2015 est.) Ease of Doing Business (World Bank 2015) 39.06 US$ Billion US$800 8.4 % 176 /189 Inflation Rate 1,1 % (2015) Cities and Population Official Language(s) Languages French Lingala, Kingwana, Kikongo, Tshiluba City Population 11.587 million Lubumbashi 2.015 million Mbuji- Mayi 20.007 million Kananga 1.169 million Kisangani 1.04 million Bukau 832 000 Business Hours Banking Hours 0830 hrs-1600 hrs Lunch 1300-1400 hrs 0830 hrs-1600 hrs (weekdays) 0830-1200 (Sat) Literacy Rate 63. Measures Important International Participation Metric System UN, AU, SADC, COMESA, WTO
US$Billion DRC Trade with the World 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1-2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Years Exports Imports Major import sources of DRC (2015) Major export destinations of DRC (2015) 1% 1 30% 4% 5 6% 6% 7% 1 10% 2 China South Africa Belgium India France Germany Uganda USA Netherlands China Saudi Arabia Korea Belgium USA Turkey India South Africa Italy Japan Germany
US$ Million Major import products of DRC (2015) Major export products of DRC (2015) 16% 3 11% 1 17% 60% 4% Machinery Electrical, electronic equipment Pharmaceutical products Vehicles other than railway, tramway Articles of iron or steel Plastics and articles thereof Meat and edible meat offal Iron and steel Mineral fuels Furniture Copper and articles thereof base metals Ores, slag and ash Pearls, precious stones Mineral fuels Wood and articles of wood, wood charcoal Zimbabwe- DRC Trade 20,000 18,000 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000-2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Exports Imports Trade Balance
Zimbabwe s major exports to DRC (2015) Zimbabwe Major exports to DRC in 2015 (US$ 000) DRC Imports from the World in 2015 (US$ 000) Electrical energy 3,681 3,909 Fish, cured or smoked and fish meal fit for 4 20,057 human consumption Beauty, make-up & skin-care preparations; 1 7,597 sunscreens, manicure or pedicure Soap; organic surface-active preparations for soap use 1 13,181 Zimbabwe products with export potential to DRC Zimbabwe's imports from DRC (2015) 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 Derived from Trademap Statistics 2 9% 17% 11% 1 Glaziers putty Glazed ceram flags & paving Tractors Trucks Mechanical appliances Insulated wire Electrical appliances for switching Air conditioning machines Tubes & pipes Machinery,plant/lab,involving a change of temperature
Useful Addresses Preferential Trade Arrangements 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 8-9 June 2016 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 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 8 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. Prep by H. Musundire