RESTRICTED  
 
WT/TPR/G/339  
11 May 2016  
(16-2585)  Page: 1/19  
Trade Policy Review Body  Original: French  
 
  TRADE POLICY REVIEW 
REPORT BY 
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO 
Pursuant to the Agreement Establishing the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (Annex 3 of the 
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Tr ade Organization), the policy statement by 
the Democratic Republic of the Congo is attached. 
 
 
Note: This report is subject to restricted circulation and press embargo until the end of the first 
session of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body on the Democratic Republic of the Congo. WT/TPR/G/339• Democratic Republic of the Congo 
 
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  TABLE OF CONTENTS 
1   INTROD UCTION  .......................................................................................................... 3  
2   THE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF THE DE MOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC) ... 4 
3   MEDIUM-TERM MACROECONOMIC APPROACH (2017-2021) ........................................ 6  
4   PROSPECTS FOR REFORM OF  THE CONGOLESE ECONOMY ........................................... 6  
4.1   Business environment ................................................................................................ 6  
4.2   Trade ....................................................................................................................... 7  
4.3   At sect oral level ....................................................................................................... . 8 
4.3.1   Public finances .......................................................................................................  8 
4.3.2   Government  procurement ........................................................................................ 9  
4.3.3   State-owne d enterprises .......................................................................................... 9  
4.3.4   Domest ic taxation .................................................................................................. 10 
4.3.5   Customs ............................................................................................................... 10 
4.3.6   Industry, SMEs, traditional crafts and artisa nal activities ............................................. 11 
4.3.7   Agriculture, livestock, fishing and rural development ................................................... 11 
4.3.8   Forestry and the environment .................................................................................. 12 
4.3.9   Mining and hydrocarbons ........................................................................................ 12 
4.3.10   Electricity and water ............................................................................................. 13 
4.3.11   Postal services an d telecommunica tions/ICTs ........................................................... 13 
4.3.12   Transport ............................................................................................................ 14 
4.3.13   Financial services ................................................................................................. 15 
4.3.14   Tourism ..............................................................................................................  15 
4.3.15   Culture and the arts ............................................................................................. 15 
4.3.16   Landed property .................................................................................................. 15 
5   INTERNATIONAL AND REGI ONAL TRADE C OOPERATION .......................................... 16  
5.1.1   The DRC and the mult ilateral trad ing system ............................................................. 16 
5.1.2   Negotiation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) ........................................... 16 
5.1.3   Integration and regi onal trade ne gotiations ............................................................... 17 
6   CONC LUSION............................................................................................................. 17  
ACRONYMS ..................................................................................................................... 19  
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  1  INTRODUCTION 
1.1.  The macroeconomic situation of the Democrat ic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has stabilized 
further since the country's first trade policy review (TPR) was conducted at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2010. Following the shocks caused by the international financial and 
economic crisis of 2008-2009, the economy has ex perienced a clear rebound. This reflects the 
Government's sustained commitment to the programme of structural and sectoral reform it implemented between 2009 and 2012 under the seco nd IMF-supported Economic Programme that 
was superseded in 2013 by an independent Government economic programme.  
1.2.  The combined effects of these actions are evident in the trends in various macroeconomic 
indicators. Growth in the period under review av eraged 7.8%, peaking at 9.5% in 2014. The initial 
projection for 2015 was 10.2% but that figure was revised downwards to 7.7%, reflecting the 
economic slowdown caused by the fall in commodity prices. 
1.3.  Thanks to Government efforts, overall infl ation has gradually been brought down to a very 
low level. In contrast to 2009, when the average annual rate reached 46.1%, over the last 
three years the Government has managed to contain inflation at around 1%, and in 2015 the 
figure was 0.815%.  
1.4.  In terms of budgetary policy, Government spending and income have consistently trended 
upwards and the budget position has been bala nced, although in 2014 Government financial 
operations recorded a slight deficit of around 0.29% of GDP. Over the period 2010-2015 the State has not had recourse to the Central Bank of the Congo (BCC) to finance deficits.  
1.5.  The DRC reached its HIPC completion point in  July 2010. An analysis of the sustainability of 
the public debt in May 2014 shows that debt indica tors have improved. In 2014 the stock of public 
debt stood at US$6,324.97 million compared to US$13,610.22 	million in 2009.  
1.6.  Additionally, there has been a gradual correction in the external account imbalances. 
Following a deficit of 9.1% of GDP in 2010, the DRC balance of payments improved until 2014, 
recording surpluses as a result of the strong  performance of exports of mining products. 
The overall balance of payments stood at +US $116.7 million, equivalent to 0.3% of GDP.  
1.7.  Where the trade balance specifically is concerned, after the sharp fall that followed the 
collapse in commodity prices in 2009, the volume of trade in goods recovered, recording significant increases in exports and imports of 94.0% and 62.5% respectively in 2010. The value 
of overall trade continued to grow over 2010-2014 and consistently posted surpluses, the highest 
of which was CDF 739.9 billion in 2013. The three chief trading partners of the DRC over the 
period 2010-2015 were China, South Africa and the European Union.  
1.8.  In order to bolster these achievements, th e DRC adopted new foreign exchange regulations. 
They were published on 28 March 2014 and entered into force in September that year. Their aim is 
to improve the regulation of foreign exchange tran sactions by adjusting to changes in the national, 
regional and international environment. The regulations enshrine the primacy of the national 
currency within the national territory as the currency for settling transactions, and provide that 
foreign currencies may not be used in transactions within the territory unless so agreed by the parties involved. Consequently, the new foreign exchange regulations require the payment of all fees, charges, duties and other taxes due to the St ate and its subdivisions, including those paid by 
mining and oil companies, to be made in the national currency.  
1.9.  Over the period 2010-2015, following the recommendations of its first TPR at the WTO 
(2010), the Democratic Republic of the Congo has implemented some important initiatives and 
reforms in order to increase the transparency an d effectiveness of its trade policy, improve the 
business climate and spur domestic performance in private-sector competitiveness and investment. 
1.10.  To that end, legal certainty for investment in the DRC has been further consolidated, 
particularly by our accession to the Treaty on the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) on 11 February 2010 and to the 1958 New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards in June 2013. WT/TPR/G/339• Democratic Republic of the Congo 
 
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  1.11.  In the context of accession to OHADA,  a plan to revitalize the legal system was 
implemented during the period 2010-2015, in additi on to the establishment of the Constitutional 
Court. This led the Government to construct and establish 8 commercial courts, bringing the number of such courts in the national territory to 11. The plan also included training abroad for 
47 trainers in OHADA law, the training in DRC of 2,544 legal professionals and the opening of 
a Master's Degree course in OHADA law within the 3 national university institutes. The other focus of action in this field was to establish new notarial appointments and to set up and make 
operational 3 labour courts in Kinshasa (Matete, Gombe) and Lubumbashi. 
1.12.  Additionally, in response to observations made at the first TPR, the Government focused on 
taxation and parafiscal requirements, by revitalizing and increasing the efficiency of tax services, cutting some taxes and rationalizing levies. As part of that process the DRC adopted a national 
nomenclature of taxes and fees leviable by central government, the provinces and decentralized 
regional entities. Moreover, several levies were cut or abolished, reducing the total number to 
around 40 compared to the 117 identified during the TPR in 2010. By way of illustration we can 
cite the abolition of the duty on import tran sactions and the 90% cut in the fee for issuing 
a national identity number, from US$200 to US$30 for natural persons and from US$100 to US$10 for legal persons. 
1.13.  The Government also tackled the issue of the red tape associated with the pursuit of 
economic activity. To that end on 1 November 2012 it established a Single Window for Starting a Business to centralize the formalities involved, significantly reducing the timescales from 133 days in 2010 to 11 days in 2015 ( Doing Business  2016). Similarly, the Government made the Single 
Window for Foreign Trade operational. This electronic platform for the completion of formalities 
related to foreign trade operations is currently being rolled out nationwide.  
1.14.  The period under review also included liberal ization of several areas of trade in services in 
order to restructure them, open them up to priv ate capital and improve performance. As a result, 
insurance was liberalized in the finance sector, as were power, water and hydrocarbons in the energy sector.  
1.15.  Reform of government procurement began in  2010 with a view to modernizing the country's 
procurement system and aligning it more closely with international standards. The same was true 
of State-ownership where the priorities were to  reform State-owned enterprises, improve their 
management and performance, refocus the State on its normative and regulatory role, and 
promote the private sector. 
1.16.  The reforms of the economic environment led to the DRC being ranked among the Top 10 
of the world's most improved countries according to the World Bank's Doing Business 2015  Report. 
The reforms provide important business investment opportunities for domestic and foreign private 
investors and make for a deeper, more develope d public-private partnership. The aim is to 
capitalize on the country's enormous potential with a view to becoming an emergent economy 
by 2030. 
2  THE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF THE DEMO CRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC) 
2.1.  The Democratic Republic of the Congo (D RC) is the second-largest country in Africa, 
occupying an area of 2,345,095 km2. Located in the heart of Africa, the country shares 9,165 km 
of borders with nine countries: the Republic of Congo to the west; the Central African Republic and 
South Sudan to the north; Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania to the east; Zambia to the south-east; and Angola to the south.  
2.2.  It has vast assets and natural resources in the soil and subsoil that make it an extraordinary 
land of opportunities for business and investment in a plethora of areas.  
2.3.  In terms of agricultural development, the DRC has 145 million ha of forest 
covering 1.4 million km² of the national territory spread across four major ecosystems with 
a varied topography and climate. It has 80 million ha of arable land, of which only 9-10% are currently under cultivation. It also has vast expanses of pasture capable of accommodating over 40 million head of cattle, and an estima ted fishery potential of 700,000 tonnes of fish 
per year. Its drainage system accounts for over half (52%) of Africa's water reserves and WT/TPR/G/339• Democratic Republic of the Congo 
 
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  essentially consists of the 6,000 km Congo River Basi n, major lakes and rivers on either side of the 
Equator, and receives plentiful rainfall (1,000 mm/year). The Congo River Basin covers an area 
of close to 3.75 million km², making it the world's second largest just behind the Amazon basin. 
2.4.  Combined with the Government's ambition s to increase production of food crops and 
perennial products and restore food security, this enormous potential affords huge opportunities 
for business initiatives and investment in fisheries, fish-farming, animal husbandry and agro-industry spearheaded by the creation of agro-industrial parks. 
2.5.  Additionally, although mining is the mo st buoyant sector of the Congolese economy, 
the country's colossal potential in this sector offers wider and greater opportunities for growth and development. This could entail the setting up of further handling and processing plants 
and the emergence downstream of industries that consume mineral raw materials, such as the 
cabling industry.  
2.6.  Opportunities such as these stem from the 1,100 minerals and metals recorded 
nationwide. The DRC has significant geological reserves including the world's second largest 
copper reserves estimated at about 75 million to nnes, a quarter of the world's diamond reserves 
(around 700 million carats), and a quarter of the wo rld's gold reserves (± 750 tonnes). In addition 
there are significant reserves of cobalt, zinc, bauxite, phosphate, and manganese among others. 
2.7.  The DRC also has a genuine energy advantage in the Congo River. Its powerful average rate 
of flow (40,000 m
3/day) has a hydroelectric potential of 100,000 MW, the highest in Africa (37%). 
A further 217 hydroelectric sites have been identifi ed. In view of the country's and region's current 
energy deficit, there are several opportunities for investment in the construction of hydroelectric 
dams, and the cross-border transmission, distributi on and marketing of electricity. The situation 
improved further when in 2015 the Government liber alized the whole sector in the context of its 
policy aimed at substantially increasing the availa ble power ratings and boosting coverage rates; 
it is also taking steps to liberalize the regional electricity market. 
2.8.  In terms of hydrocarbons, the DRC's petroleum reserves account for 6% of all those in Africa 
and include three sedimentary basins (Coastal Basin, Central Basin, Western Basin), to which must 
be added the large gas fields in Lake Kivu. Given the scale of national consumption of oil products, 
and the country's geographical location, the DRC wo uld be an excellent site for the development of 
a regional energy hub, particularly for the constr uction of storage, pipeline distribution and 
refinery infrastructure.  
2.9.  The services sector in the DRC is also buoy ant and has great potential. For example the latest 
reforms and liberalization measures in the financial sector (banking, insurance, microfinance) have paved the way for establishing a more struct ured financial market offering investment 
opportunities in setting up or operating insuranc e companies, banks and other specialized financial 
institutions, and there is relatively strong scope for development.
 
2.10.  As in other African countries, the telecommunications and ICT sector is developing rapidly, 
to the extent that improving the telecommunications infrastructure is a need that could be well 
served through private investment and public-private partnerships. Here too, opportunities lie in setting up businesses to develop IT applications  and the Internet, and the roll-out of mobile 
telephony internet services.
 
2.11.  The DRC also has immense potential for tourism of many kinds across 1,142 sites in 2014 combining biodiversity, 7 national parks and 57 exceptional reservations, its topography, varied climate, ethnic diversity and culture. 
 
2.12.  Today, thanks to Government efforts to repair the road and airport infrastructure, establish a national airline, and construct or renovate hotel accommodation, tourism is undoubtedly one of the most promising sectors for business development and investment for the future. 
 
2.13.  The construction and real estate sector is also growing rapidly as a result of high demand in major urban centres and the vast expanses of land available in each province on which to construct social housing and residential buildings. This sector also offers genuine opportunities for WT/TPR/G/339• Democratic Republic of the Congo 
 
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  the development of industry and related services. The Government is supporting this growth by 
cutting the cost of a construction permit by 50% and simplifying property registration procedures.  
2.14.  Finally, with a population estimated at over 71 million in 2014, and a steadily growing 
middle class, the DRC is one of the largest domestic markets in Africa for the production and 
consumption of services and manufactures. Moreover, its central location and connections with 
Africa's largest economic integration areas (C OMESA, SADC, TRIPARTITE, ECCAS) make it the 
perfect hub for business development and investment in the region.  
3  MEDIUM-TERM MACROECONO MIC APPROACH (2017-2021) 
3.1.  Despite the recent economic performance, th ere is still work to do to meet economic and 
social needs. In view of this fact, the Government has undertaken to adopt the National Development Strategy (PNSD) to act as a new framework to guide government action for the 
period 2017-2021. 
3.2.  As a result, in order to proffer urgent, structured solutions to people's needs, the 
Government intends to move the country from low- income to intermediate-income status by 2021, 
achieve emergent economy status by 2030, and finally to attain industrial economy status 
by 2050. As quantitative indicators of these ambi tions, per capita GDP should increase from its 
current (2015) level of around US$500 to US$1,035 per capita by 2021, then to US$4,000 
per capita by 2030, attaining US$12,000 by 2050. 
3.3.  Significant work will be required in or der to achieve these ambitions. Assuming average 
annual population growth of 3% over the period 2017-2021 (compared to 3.17% 
between 2010-2015), average inflation of 2% (com pared to 1.2% in 2015), stable exchange rates, 
and an improvement both in income redistribution  factors and in the ripple effects of growth 
through the economy, an annual real increase of 14% in GDP would be required in order to bring 
current per capita GDP to the level projecte d for 2021. That means almost doubling average 
growth over the period 2017-2021 compared to the average recorded for the period 2011-2015. 
3.4.  For the period 2017-2021 inflation would be  contained at around 1% while economic growth 
would be 9.2%. 
3.5.  In order to achieve those objectives, the Government intends to promote an economic 
diversification and industrialization policy that attaches greater importance to growth-generating sectors, including agriculture, and that pr ioritizes special economic zones (ZES).  
3.6.  Specific measures to control public spending and rapid-impact structural reforms will continue 
to be maintained in order to prevent public finances from being too thinly spread and to avert 
corruption, which undermines all efforts to improve revenue collection and promote development.  
3.7.  The Government will provide sustained su pport for productive public investment through 
ongoing improvements to the business climate in order to boost national investment and attract 
greater foreign direct investment, and through the exploration of new, innovative sources of external finance, not to mention the possibility of harnessing domestic savings. 
3.8.  Similarly the positioning of SMEs as one of  the main drivers of the country's new economic 
policy is an overriding priority, which will require enhanced resources in terms of support and finance for local business people, especially young people and women. 
4  PROSPECTS FOR REFORM OF THE CONGOLESE ECONOMY 
4.1  Business environment 
4.1.  In order to enhance the business climate in  the DRC, the Government intends to continue 
with and maintain the pace of reform. 
4.2.  Measures are envisaged in the area of justice to liberalize the offices of notary and bailiff, 
which have hitherto been performed by government services. Additionally, the Government plans to amend the law on the operation of the commercia l courts, particularly with a view to reducing WT/TPR/G/339• Democratic Republic of the Congo 
 
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  the time taken to settle commercial disputes. In a similar vein, new labour courts will be 
established in other provinces. 
4.3.  In terms of business law, the actions that are planned relate to enhanced implementation of 
the law of the OHADA, an organization to which the DRC acceded in 2010. Accordingly, the 
legislative programme provides for the adoption of a law setting out procedures for implementing 
OHADA law. In order to enhance stakeholder capa city, the Government intends to continue with 
and step up awareness-raising and training in OHADA law for entrepreneurs nationwide. 
The reforms will also involve operational aspects, including the computerization of the Trade and 
Real Estate Credit Register (RCCM) and the establishment of an OHADA documentation centre that meets international standards. 
4.4.  On procedures and formalities, the Government will complete preparations to bring the 
Integrated Single Window for External Trade into  operation. The Window will cover the full range 
of import and export formalities from pre-customs clearance, to clearance and post-clearance. Similarly, work to reduce the red tape and timescales involved in setting up a business nationwide 
will continue. Accordingly, satellite Single Window offices will be set up throughout the country. 
4.5.  In order to support public investment and further stimulate national and foreign direct private 
investment, the State has undertaken to adopt shortly a specific law on public-private 
partnerships. 
4.6.  Measures to simplify fiscal and parafiscal requirements will be enhanced in the near future. 
On finance, measures will also be taken to modernize the central credit registers when the second phase in the process gets under way, namely the establishment of a credit bureau. 
4.7.  The Government also plans to amend the Family Code in order to strengthen the legal 
capacity of married businesswomen and encourage women to enter business. 
4.8.  These reforms will be supplemented by other sector-based measures.  
4.2  Trade 
4.9.  The Government's vision for trade policy over the coming years is to develop an economic 
environment in which domestic and foreign trad e can develop unhindered, thereby ending the 
isolation of the national territory, integrating the domestic market, and strengthening the 
connections with regional and international trade channels. To that end the DRC will work to finalize the adoption in the near future of its National Trade Strategy Paper (DNSC) and will publicize and implement it.  
4.10.  With regard to formalities, apart from th e Single Window for External Trade that will very 
soon become fully operational, the DRC will wo rk to implement the WTO Agreement on Trade 
Facilitation (ATF) in conformity with the categorization exercise it has performed under that 
Agreement. The process of identifying assist ance and support needs will be completed 
during 2016, and as a result the DRC will be able to request and receive support from technical and financial partners that support implementation of the ATF. 
4.11.  The Government also intends to complete the process to establish and set up a National 
Notification Committee to create a framework for consultation, agreement and analysis of trade facilitation issues, ultimately in the aim of improv ing the levels of notification to the WTO, chiefly 
in the priority areas identified, namely SPS and TBT measures, agriculture, and customs statistics. 
Technical support will help to speed up the process of achieving the desired outcomes. 
4.12.  The Government intends to step up economic and trade cooperation with its regional 
partners. It plans to introduce a preferential customs tariff in connection with its imminent 
participation in the COMESA free-trade area; step up its involvement in regional trade 
negotiations, including negotiations on services in the Southern African Development Community (SADC); contribute to the effective implementation of the Simplified Trade Regime (STR); and 
increase the number of Trade Information Offices (BIC) at borders.  WT/TPR/G/339• Democratic Republic of the Congo 
 
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  4.13.  The plans also focus on a number of concer ns, including the finalization of the schedule of 
approved industrial products eligible  for the ECCAS preferential tariff.  
4.14.  In terms of domestic policy, the Governme nt plans to adopt actions to enhance integration 
within the local market. This will include developing infrastructure to support trade, specifically 
a transport network capable of facilitating the movement of goods between production areas, 
depots and areas of availability, and consumption centres. 
4.15.  There will be a policy to revitalize the domestic market upstream, based on improving and 
diversifying domestic supply in agro-industrial subsectors, improving the competitiveness of the 
private sector by tackling the high costs of fact ors of production, and gradually reintegrating the 
informal sector into the formal economy.  
4.16.  The completion of the procedures leading to the adoption of the Law on Competition and 
Consumer Protection and the Law on e-Commerce will strengthen the legal framework. 
4.17.  Where quality control is concerned, the count ry plans to boost the technical capacity of its 
services at points of entry in order to facilitate goods inspections at the border, especially for foods 
and medicines. There are plans to set up a nati onal quality control laboratory for medicines. 
The Government also intends to deploy a strategy to increase local production of medicines. 
4.18.  Still in the area of controls, the Government will continue to boost the capacity of the 
Congolese Control Office (OCC). Work to that end will focus on the accreditation of activities 
associated with inspections, laboratories and metrology. It will also focus on providing continuing professional development for OCC staff, and on  the construction of buildings to house new 
analytical laboratories throughout the country in order to bring the inspections service closer to 
production areas, points of entry, and reloading points. This is a formidable challenge and one 
where financial and technical assistance would help to heighten impact, given the DRC's size. 
4.3  At sectoral level 
4.3.1  Public finances 
4.19.  The DRC will continue with reforms in the ar ea of public finance and intends to increase the 
pace of some of those already under way ranging from increased public expenditure to 
improvements in the quality of that expendit ure. The main thrusts of the reforms will be: 
(i) effective application of the Law on Public Finance (LOFIP); (ii) rationalization of the payment procedure; (iii) strengthening of the chain of expe nditure; and (iv) adoption of a new procedural 
handbook on the public expenditure system establishing a connection between officials who 
authorize payments and government accounting officers.  
4.20.  Strategy in the area of government a ccounting will focus on implementing the accrual 
method by (i) articulating the budgetary nomenclatu re with the chart of accounts; (ii) introducing 
an information system that establishes a connection between authorizing officials (income and 
expenditure) and the government accounts; (iii) creating a Directorate-General of the Treasury 
and Government Accounts (DGTCP) and rolling out the National Network of Government 
Accounting Officers (RNCP) throughout the national territory; and (iv) formulating the trial balance 
and the financial statements.  
4.21.  In order to improve the quality of expenditure, specific measures to support public spending 
and rapid-impact structural reform will be impl emented, monitored and assessed by a high-level 
Steering Committee and a Task Force. The planned measures will relate inter alia  to continued 
adherence to the expenditure chain, enhanced levels of investment expenditure and their rate of absorption and implementation. 
4.22.  In order to ensure these measures are successful and avoid compromising efforts 
to harness revenue and promote development, th e Government intends to step up the fight 
against corruption.  
4.23.  The Government will also continue its work in the budgetary field by encouraging 
maximization of internal and external resources through the harnessing of private domestic WT/TPR/G/339• Democratic Republic of the Congo 
 
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  savings. The Government also plans to change the culture within public institutions and to support 
and rationalize public spending through measures  to harmonize salaries and emoluments within 
those institutions, control officials' pay, and keep track of operating costs. 
4.24.  The greatest challenge in terms of the pub lic debt is to safeguard its sustainability as 
established after the DRC reached its HIPC comple tion point, while ensuring coverage of the 
State's financing requirements. The plan to achieve that goal consists in: (i) drawing up and implementing a Medium-Term Debt Strategy 201 6-2020 (SDMT); (ii) reforming the regulatory 
framework of the debt and setting out the aims that recourse to public debt seeks to achieve; 
(iii) establishing an annual Debt Sustainability An alysis (DSA) to be conducted by a national team; 
(iv) strengthening the institutional capacities of the institutions in the public debt chain; and (v) reforming the management structure of the public debt. The aim of the reform is to set 
up modern debt management instruments to improve governance in this area and closely monitor 
the development of the debt portfolio in relation to the State's solvency and immediate liquidity capabilities. 
4.25.  The process of diversifying sources of finance also includes plans to issue government 
securities on the domestic and international markets. 
4.26.  To that end, the Court of Auditors will ha ve enhanced powers of inspection and assessment. 
For the period ahead, it has plans for several audit missions in respect of national structures or the 
efficiency of specific initiatives. 
4.3.2  Government procurement 4.27.  The Congolese Government will continue to implement the short-, medium- and long-term 
measures contained in the road map implementing the Law on Government Procurement of 2010. 
4.28.  The measures will supplement and u pdate the regulations governing government 
procurement. Operationally, the plan is to formulate ethical procedures and policies for 
government procurement, provide technical support  for government procurement bodies; and fully 
and effectively establish provincial and local bodies to ensure compliance with government procurement procedures.  
4.29.  In order to strengthen management, procedural compliance, and transparency in this area, 
the State also plans to move to paperless government procurement, introduce a procurement website connected to the associated regional and international platforms, and introduce an Automated Government Procurement System (SIGMAP) 
4.30.  Where controls and monitoring are concerned, regular annual audits of government 
procurement and system evaluations will be cond ucted, and mechanisms to prevent and combat 
corruption in government procurement will be set up. At the same time, there will be action 
to increase public accountability. Measures such as training and assistance in how to submit 
bids will also be implemented in order to increase  the private sector's capacity to participate in 
government procurement. 
4.3.3  State-owned enterprises 
4.31.  The first stage in the reform of State ownership, particularly State-owned enterprises, was 
legal reform. The second stage wi ll focus on economic reform.  
4.32.  Measures will be taken to increase the co mpetitiveness and profitability of the enterprises 
that remain under State ownership. The measures include improving management methods, 
identifying performance objectives, and develo ping public-private partnership targets. 
4.33.  Work will also focus on finalizing the re form of some State-owned enterprises that have 
a structural developmental impact and on comple ting the winding up of State-owned enterprises 
that have been dissolved. 
4.34.  The restructuring of State-owned enterprises w ill continue and an audit of the first stage will 
be conducted. WT/TPR/G/339• Democratic Republic of the Congo 
 
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  4.3.4  Domestic taxation 
4.35.  As regards domestic taxation, in the short term the Government plans to assess the reform 
that introduced value-added tax (VAT) in January 2012. The assessment should lead to improvements in VAT collection mechanisms and the diversification of VAT rates, for example 
reducing the rate on staple products such as foodstuffs. 
4.36.  There are also plans to introduce electronic declarations, corporation tax (IS) and personal 
income tax (IRPP). 
4.37.  Initially, on a trial basis, the migration to electronic declarations will apply to companies in 
the mining sector. Corporation tax will be levied  only on profits made by companies, whereas 
personal income tax will be levied exclusively on the income of natural persons.  
4.38.  Similarly, the Government intends to increa se effective recovery of the Professional Tax on 
Wages (IPR) levied in respect of all members of national and provincial public institutions and the 
staff of State-owned enterprises and establishments. 
4.39.  As far as non-tax receipts are concerned, the reforms under way will continue and are to be 
taken further in order to remove the obstac les hindering revenue allocation objectives. 
The measures will include technical capacity-building for the Directorate-General of Administrative and Government Property Revenue (DGRAD) and ma king recovery as effective as possible by 
increasing the computerization of services.  
4.40.  The nomenclature of taxes and fees leviable by central government and the provinces, 
adopted in February 2013, will be further simplifi ed having regard to the criteria of lawfulness, 
payment for services rendered, absence of duplicat ion and the rationale behind taxes and levies.  
4.41.  Additionally, the statistical system used by DGRAD will be developed so that it holds 
reliable, real-time data. 
4.42.  Specific measures will be taken in the mining sector, including the introduction of a 
procedural handbook on the collection of mining royalties, the modernization of the management 
of mining royalties, and the computerization of administrative documents. 
4.43.  The Government will beef up the system of positive and negative sanctions against the 
revenue authorities and economic operators by releasing amounts payable by way of reassignment 
to the revenue-generating services, punishing agents involved in fraud and corruption, and requiring a declaration of the assets held by officials working in the financial system before and after their term of office. 
4.44.  Technical assistance from international partners would unquestionably increase the pace of 
these reforms. 
4.3.5  Customs 
4.45.  The Government intends to step up its action to further reduce the costs, clearance times 
and efficiency of customs procedures. To that en d, there will be a strong focus on the customs 
measures in the Agreement on Trade Facilitation. 
4.46.  In the light of the DRC's participation in the regional free-trade organization COMESA, 
provisions are being drafted to bring Congolese cu stoms tariffs into line with those of COMESA. 
4.47.  In terms of operational management, the Government plans to migrate from ASYCUDA++ 
to ASYCUDA World in some provinces where there is no computer connection as yet. That process 
will be supported through a training programme for users in the provinces in question.  
4.48.  Computerization of services will be stepped up, especially for customs valuation. To that end 
the DGDA has recently acquired IT equipment (servers and computers) to help update its 
IT network. The Government also intends to bo lster the risk-management system. Additionally, 
a timetable has been laid down for establishing an electronic payment network for customs fees. WT/TPR/G/339• Democratic Republic of the Congo 
 
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  4.49.  As regards customs cooperation, the DRC will continue its work to draw up new draft 
bilateral agreements with trading partners in Africa and internationally, including Morocco, South Sudan, Turkey and India. 
4.50.  The construction of one-stop border posts (PFAU) is planned for the North Corridor between 
Kasindi and Mpondwe (DRC-Uganda), Goma an d Rubavu (DRC-Rwanda), and Kamvimvira 
and Gatuna (DRC-Burundi). In the latter two cases, discussions are under way with the countries concerned. 
4.3.6  Industry, SMEs, traditional crafts and artisanal activities 
4.51.  In order to improve the economy's resilien ce and enable sustained growth, the Government 
will implement a policy to diversify and promote local industry.  
4.52.  As part of that strategy, it plans to implement a Master Plan for Industrialization based on 
promoting nine key industrial sectors, namely: timber, textiles, oils and fats, grain mill products 
and starches, buildings, public works and construction materials, farm and fishery products, metal processing, maintenance and packaging. 
4.53.  Pride of place will be offered to promisin g sectors including agriculture, thus strengthening 
its link with industry. Special economic zones will continue to be one of the cornerstones in implementing the strategy. 
4.54.  Moreover in legislative terms, the Government is planning to revise Law No. 82-001 
of 7 January 1982 on industrial property in order to bring it into line with the relevant provisions of 
the TRIPS Agreement, and to accede to the Madrid Agreement and the Madrid Protocol. The DRC is also preparing to adopt a law on standardization and metrology and to revitalize and promote 
related activities. The plans include the adoption of standards in several fields such as 
hydrocarbons, cosmetic products, pharmaceutical products, textiles, electronic engineering, aromatic herbs and spices, the environment, beers, alcohols and liqueurs, etc. 
4.55.  In the area of SMEs and traditional craf ts, the Government is pressing ahead with the 
adoption of a Code of Traditional Crafts and Artisanal Activities and a law on entrepreneurship in the DRC in the aim of improving the organization of those sectors and increasing the 
competitiveness of SMEs in the country. Those two instruments will comprise the National Strategy 
for SMEs that is awaiting adoption. Other actions are also envisaged under that strategy, including 
the establishment of a National Register of  SMEs, a Guarantee Fund for SMEs, and an 
Opportunities Database for SMEs. 
4.56.  The institutional framework that provides financial support for the development of industrial 
companies will be reviewed following the establis hment of a National Investment Fund, the reform 
of the Industrial Promotion Fund (FPI) as an investment bank, and the recapitalization of the 
Congolese Savings Bank (CADECO) and the Financial Development Company (SOFIDE). In the 
interim, the FPI will give priority to financing st ructuring, industrializing investment with knock-on 
effects on agriculture, and its activities will centre on capital expenditure. 
4.57.  Finally, in the short term the Government intends to implement a series of incentives for 
the private sector in cooperation with the Fede ration of Congolese Enterprises (FEC) and other 
similar organizations. 
4.3.7  Agriculture, livestock, fishing and rural development 
4.58.  Beginning in 2016, the Government intend s to take measures to increase economic 
diversification, with significant attention being paid to agriculture, which will have a higher share of the public expenditure budget. The actions planned for this sector aim to increase and diversify 
agricultural production. They are part of the overall framework for implementing the National 
Agricultural Investment Plan (PNIA 2013-20). 
4.59.  This is an important challenge that the country must address by 2020 in order to 
significantly reduce poverty levels among the rural population. To that end it will have to continue 
to raise substantial investment both domestically and from international donors and partners.  WT/TPR/G/339• Democratic Republic of the Congo 
 
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  4.60.  In the wake of the launch of the Bukanga Lonzo agro-industrial park in 2014, the 
Government plans in the short term to roll out similar parks in the other provinces, first and foremost at the 11 sites for which pre-feasibility studies are already available.  
4.61.  Through the components of the PNIA the Go vernment also intends to modernize agricultural 
production systems in order to sustainably improve productivity of major crops, including coffee, 
cocoa, rubber, rice, maize and cassava, by means of better access to factors of production and markets as well as improvements to the legal en vironment and governance, with the overall goal 
of ending malnutrition and food insecurity. 
4.62.  In fisheries, a caged-aquaculture project along the Congo River will be launched in the very 
near future in Kinshasa, supported by Egypt. 
4.63.  In order to support the agricultural sector, the Government will take measures to provide 
greater assistance for small farmers, together wi th the establishment of an agricultural bank. 
Two laws will be adopted, one on seeds and one on agricultural credit. The latter will guarantee the funding that small producers receive from finance institutions. 
4.3.8  Forestry and the environment 
4.64.  As far as the legislative framework is concerned, the implementing measures for Law 
No. 011/2002 of 29 August 2002 on the Forest Code will be implemented and supplemented. 
The Government is also drawing up a law on sani tation, and will address the issue of establishing 
a revamped and operational Forestry Register. 
4.65.  Additionally the Government plans to  implement the National Programme on the 
Environment, Forestry, Water Resources and Biodiversity (PNEFEB). This single strategic 
framework for action is more exhaustive than any of the commitments assumed by the 
Congolese State. 
4.66.  Starting in 2016, the Government intends to strengthen the tax and parafiscal framework 
for the forestry sector. To that end, the activities  of EITI/DRC will be extended to cover forestry. 
4.67.  Priority projects have been identified for the medium term and will be implemented over the 
coming years. They include the establishment of:  
-  timber production clusters in rural areas; 
-  a carpentry and cabinet-making centre; 
-  a regional development platform to pilot forestry development;  
-  a wooden-frame construction system for social housing; 
-  a rotary cutting plant to make packaging (requires modest investment);  
-  a special institute to train trainers of sawmilling; 
-  a pilot training centre for the woodworking industry alternating classroom and on-the-job 
training; 
-  a technological research centre for wood material and its utilization;  
-  a pilot electricity co-generation unit using products connected with the timber industry. 
4.68.  The State plans to reduce use of wood  as a fuel by 25-30% by 2030, plant around 
3 million ha of forest by 2025, establish an aver age annual growth rate in the forestry sector 
of 5%, and increase the volume of production in logs and commercial timber by around 10% per year. Additionally, as part of efforts to co mbat climate change, the DRC aims to implement 
mitigation action to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 17% by 2030. 
4.3.9  Mining and hydrocarbons 4.69.  In order to achieve its overall objectives, namely an improved business climate, harmonious 
coexistence of industrial and small-scale mining, development of the DRC's mineral potential, 
and better social and environmental conditions in mining areas, the Government's priorities 
in the mining sector will essentially focus on drafting the Strategic Mining Development 
Plan (2016-2021). WT/TPR/G/339• Democratic Republic of the Congo 
 
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  4.70.  In the short term the Government will take measures to diversify mineral production based 
on the complex ores in the east of the country, gold and rare earths. A further purpose of the measures will be to certify reserves of minera ls and hydrocarbons based on geophysical surveys 
and certification work. At the same time controls on the quality and amount of investment in 
mining will be enhanced. 
4.71.  In the interests of transparency and g ood governance in the mining and hydrocarbons 
sector, the EITI-DRC Executive Committee will now publish EITI reports prior to the October 
budget session so that they can be taken into account during Parliamentary debates on the 
national budget. 
4.3.10  Electricity and water 
4.72.  Work will focus on implementing the electricity law and the water law adopted in 2014 
and 2015 respectively liberalizing the two sect ors and establishing the legal framework for 
far-reaching structural reform. 
4.73.  In order to improve the supply of drinking  water and electricity in urban and rural areas, 
Government actions will focus on reinstigating work to repair and develop infrastructure and 
facilities managed by the national companies SNEL and REGIDESO. Additionally, consultations will 
be held on implementing a programme to supply electricity and potable water to rural areas. 
4.74.  Specifically in the area of electricity, in the short term the Government will continue the 
infrastructure work it has started in order to increase available capacity and improve coverage. 
The scheduled works include: 
-  the repairs under way at the power stations at Inga (Central Congo), Tshopo (Tshopo), 
Nseke and Nzilo (Katanga) which should increase generating capacity from 800 MW to 
1,300 MW by end-2016; 
 
-  continuation of the work to construct the power stations Zongo 2, Kakobola and Katende 
which together should generate close to 230 MW by end-2017. 
4.75.  In the medium term the plan is to construct the low head Inga 3 power station, which 
should generate 4,800 MW, of which 2,300 MW will be to cover domestic demand. The aim of this 
set of projects is to increase national coverage from 15% to 18% by 2018 and to 50% by 2030.  
4.76.  Where electricity transmission is concerned, the State will take steps to process requests 
for medium-voltage connections on-line. It will also continue to install pre-payment meters 
through SNEL to cover payment of bills for power consumption.  
4.77.  Additionally, as a result of the liberaliz ation of the sector, during 2016 the State plans to 
effectively establish the Regulatory Authority for the Electricity Sector (ARE) as the national 
market regulator. 
4.78.  The work to provide social access to drinking water for only US$50 will continue in the areas 
covered by the scheme. There are also plans to  construct a modular water treatment plant in 
Kinshasa capable of handling 330,000 m3/day. The first of the three planned modules will have a 
capacity of 110,000 m3/day. 
4.3.11  Postal services an d telecommunications/ICTs 
4.79.  Work to revitalize this sector began in 2015 and will continue through 2016. As part of its 
road map for the postal, telecommunications and new ICTs sector, the Government plans to 
broaden the sector's reach and its role as a driver of development and to maximize the effectiveness of the sector's achievements and potential for innovation. 
4.80.  That ambition is evident in the strategic objectives for the sector set out in the DRC 
Telecommunications and ICT Strategy Paper. In th e short term the aim will be to complete the 
review of the legal framework and to increase the number of fixed or mobile telephone lines to at 
least 30 million across the whole country. WT/TPR/G/339• Democratic Republic of the Congo 
 
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  4.81.  The State will also implement measures to speed up the move to digital terrestrial television 
(DTT) in order to free up freque ncies that can be used for 4G. 
4.82.  Where market regulation is concerned, the DRC will take measures to improve governance 
and competition in the postal, telecoms and new ICTs sectors with a view to increasing investment 
and jobs. 
4.83.  Moreover, the Government envisages a key role for the ICT and postal sectors in bringing 
the 26 provinces together and promoting the country abroad. This will include computerization of 
State administrative bodies to ensure better security and traceability of information. 
4.84.  Finally, in conformity with its Postal Se ctor Policy Statement of February 2014, by 2020 the 
Government is seeking to achieve the following objectives: 
-  provide a universal postal service, a key aspect of bringing the provinces together. 
The planned coverage rate is 20%; 
-  improve accessibility of postal services by doubling the number of post offices; 
-  promote the use of ICTs across all the valu e chains in the postal services market. 
4.3.12  Transport 
4.85.  In order to achieve the objectives of nation al and regional integration, the Government will 
continue its action in the area of road transport to put an end to the isolation of certain regions, 
primarily those that are densely populated or have significant agro-industrial potential, and border 
areas. Another goal will be multimodal road-ra il-waterway complementarity. Additionally, in the 
short term the Government will finalize a road programme to maintain around 2,400 km of roads 
that are already built and repair a further 800 km of the network. 
4.86.  Ongoing efforts to improve the rail infrastructure will continue, thanks in particular to 
cooperation with the World Bank. Works to repair an d/or strengthen lines scheduled as part of the 
Multimodal Transport Plan (PTM) will affect aro und 600 km of the network. Additionally, 187 km of 
track will be modernized and 300 km of track over several sections of line will undergo selective 
modernization. 
4.87.  For the maritime, river and lake subsector, the Government plans to continue works 
to improve navigability as part of the PTM. Buoyage work will soon begin on four stretches of 
inland waterways.  
4.88.  Further works to dredge the Congo River will  also be carried out before access to Boma and 
Matadi maritime ports in order to offer shipowners a more commercially advantageous draught. 
The long-term plan is to construct a deep-water port on the coast at Banana.  
4.89.  With regard to cargo trade, the Go vernment will support the national company Lignes 
maritimes congolaises  (LMC) to purchase and operate three vessels. Monitoring of cargo for export 
will be improved using an Electronic Information Form (FRE).  
4.90.  In air transport, the State will continue its work to improve airport infrastructures and 
facilities. To that end, as part of the second agreement signed with the World Bank and the 
African Development Bank (AfDB), it will build a new fire station and a new control tower, and will 
repair the air terminal building at Kisangani Intern ational Airport. More generally, a plan will be 
rolled out for certification of airports in the DRC. 
4.91.  Finally, the Government will step up its efforts to increase radio communications coverage 
of airspace to 95% in 2016, consolidating the ac hievements of the three previous years when the 
radio communications coverage rate rose from 20% in 2013 to 75% in 2015.  WT/TPR/G/339• Democratic Republic of the Congo 
 
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  4.3.13  Financial services   
4.92.  The Government will take measures to complete the reform of the newly liberalized 
insurance sector. To that end it will rapidly establish the Insurance Regulatory and Control Authority (ARCA) provided for in the new Insurance Code to regulate the national market in 
insurance. That process will be supported by a revitalization of the national insurance company 
SONAS in order to lay the groundwork for future competition. 
4.93.  Where credit is concerned, measures will  be taken to implement OHADA Uniform Act 1 on 
securities and credit institutions. Additionally, further actions will include improvements in 
communication and the sharing of credit information, for example in order to inform lenders about the solvency of loan applicants. 
4.3.14  Tourism 
4.94.  The outlook for this sector is set out in the Integrated National Masterplan for Tourism in 
the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 
4.95.  The plan envisages making the DRC the third most popular destination for tourism in 
sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. The associated action  plan includes restoring national parks and 
access routes to promote green tourism. There ar e also plans to add value to the reserves and 
nature sites by improving and increasing accommodation in the vicinity.  
4.96.  The Government's vision will also result in measures to develop and improve the quality of 
tourism-related services such as tourism agencies and offices. The public authorities and services working in the field of tourism will be the focus of  capacity-building work to provide them with the 
skills to conduct attractive tourism promotion programmes. The Government also plans to 
establish the Malebo International Tourism Fair, to be held for the first time in 2016. 
4.97.  Financial support for the sector will be stepped up and revitalized by refocusing the Tourism 
Promotion Fund on its primary objective. 
4.98.  Finally, the Government will pay specia l attention to making tourism sites secure. 
4.3.15  Culture and the arts 4.99.  In order to improve the focus of Government action in this sector, the plan is to draw up a 
cultural policy for the DRC in the medium term. 
4.100.  In terms of the legal framework, in the short term the Government will finalize the 
initiative to adopt a new legal framework on protection of copyright and related rights, 
in conformity with international provisions, including the TRIPS Agreement.  
4.101.  As regards institutions, the plan is to establish an authority to protect, regulate and 
enforce copyright and related rights, to be know n as the National Copyright and Related Rights 
Observatory (ONPDA).  
4.102.  Operationally and functionally, the Government intends to convert cultural associations 
into creative cultural businesses, enhance the protection of cultural assets and step up actions to combat piracy and counterfeiting of intellectual works. The Government's plans also involve 
capacity-building for stakeholders in the sector, including administrative staff, operators and 
cultural performers.  
4.3.16  Landed property 4.103.  In conformity with its overall strategy to improve the business and investment climate, 
the Government will focus on further enhancing and protecting property. With the same objective 
in view, the Land Law will be amended. Other meas ures will concern the digitalization of property 
titles so that they can be better protected. Land  reserves will be mapped in order to improve the 
planning involved in land applications.  WT/TPR/G/339• Democratic Republic of the Congo 
 
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  4.104.  Additionally, the Government will put meas ures in place to deter abuses by land title 
registrars and will work to improve the administrative aspects of dispute settlement in land matters.  
4.105.  The reforms will take account of regi onal and town planning requirements, and the 
requirements in the agricultural, forestry, environmental and mining sectors.  
5  INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL TRADE COOPERATION 5.1.  In order to facilitate its insertion into the global economy and regional integration processes, 
the DRC is involved in several trade negotiation rounds at international and regional levels. 
In particular, these include the multilateral negotiations at the WTO, negotiations for the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU and regional trade-liberalization negotiations. 
5.1.1  The DRC and the mult ilateral trading system 
5.2.  The DRC is participating in the negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) 
at the WTO and has on several occasions reaffirmed the need for a swift resolution to the Round, which is intended to make the multilateral trading system more effective and beneficial for 
developing and least developed countries (LDCs). 
5.3.  Therefore the DRC welcomes the progress made at the two most recent Ministerial 
Conferences at Bali and Nairobi. On the outstanding issues, the DRC reiterates its support for the 
positions expressed within the negotiating bodies  by the various groups to which it belongs, 
including the African Group, the LDCs  Group, the G77 and the ACP Group. 
5.4.  It draws particular attention to the fact that while avoiding a stalemate, the negotiations 
should not move away from the Doha mandate and the basic principles that put development at 
the heart of the Agenda's objectives. To that end, the DDA should achieve a comprehensive and 
balanced outcome that retains the single undertaking, enhances provisions for special and differential treatment, and is conducive to the effective integration and participation of the weakest 
economies in world trade.  
5.5.  With regard to implementing the Bali Package, the Government has opened its domestic 
procedure for the ratification of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation (ATF) and will complete it 
promptly. Additionally, in 2015 the DRC carried out the categorization exercise for ATF measures. 
The procedure for notifying it to the WTO is in train. Similarly, in view of the national background, a new draft decree was drawn up to establish a National Trade Facilitation Committee to replace the Foreign Trade Fac ilitation Committ ee that has been in existence since 1988 but is 
now obsolete. 
5.6.  The DRC also took part in the work of the LDCs Group that led to the Group's collective 
request on the waiver concerning preferential trea tment for services and service-suppliers of LDCs. 
It welcomes the offers already tabled and hopes to see other countries follow suit by affording 
greater attention to the subsectors and modes in which the LDCs have interests and/or capacity. 
5.7.  Additionally, the DRC points to the need for the rapid implementation of the 
other LDC-specific decisions in the Bali Package, especially those concerning preferential rules of 
origin, duty-free and quota-free market access (DFQF) for LDCs, and the monitoring mechanism on special and differential treatment. 
5.1.2  Negotiation of the Econom ic Partnership Agreement (EPA) 
5.8.  Together with the Central African Repub lic, Chad, Congo, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, 
Gabon, and São Tomé and Principe, the DRC is involved in the negotiations for the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union (EU) and the Central Africa (CA) region 
as part of the CA negotiating delegation. 
5.9.  There were no negotiations between the parties between 2011 and 2015. However, 
the Central Africa region resumed preparatory work in 2014. The DRC took part in the 
various meetings. WT/TPR/G/339• Democratic Republic of the Congo 
 
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  5.10.  It should be noted that the EU-CA EPA has two pillars, namely trade in goods and 
services, and measures to support development. Th e strategic thrust is to deepen Central African 
economic integration, liberalize trade with the EU , and build the production and exporting capacity 
of Central Africa. 
5.11.  The DRC hopes that there will be a rapid resumption of talks between the CA and EU 
partners with a view to concluding a regional EPA that protects the achievements of and prospects for integration in Central Africa and has full regard to the asymmetry between the two parties 
as well as the capabilities of the economies of Central Africa. 
5.12.  Therefore, it is also important to strike a balance between the levels of openness in the 
trade-related aspects of the regional EPA and the development aspects. Accordingly, the DRC 
reiterates its support for the establishment of an  EPA Regional Fund (EPARF) financed by the EU 
as part of the EPA Regional Development Suppo rt Programme (PRADA) to absorb the net fiscal 
impact (NFI). 
5.13.  In terms of monitoring the negotiations , the National Development and Trade Policy Forum 
(FNDPC), the national Committee allocated to the ta sk, has been restructured in order to increase 
the involvement of all national stakeholders in its activities. Additionally, its role has been expanded to cover all trade negotiations and trade policy review (TPR). The FNDPC received 
technical support under the OIF Hub & Spokes II Programme and financial support from the EDF 
National Authorizing Officer (EDFNAO) to help with the logistical arrangements for meetings, 
carry out studies or assist delegates attending meetings outside the DRC. However the FNDPC also faces other difficulties linked to  its material resources and the regular funding of its operations. 
5.1.3  Integration and regional trade negotiations 
5.14.  Located in the heart of Africa, the DRC sh ares nine land borders with several community 
integration areas of which it is a member, namely the SADC, COMESA, ECCAS and CEPGL. 
Accordingly, it participates in integration processes within those communities and has relations of 
cooperation with the member countries. 
5.15.  In that context, the DRC adopted a law on 1 December 2015 amending its customs tariff 
pursuant to the Treaty establishing the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa 
(COMESA). In so doing, DRC has opened the way to its first experience of participation in a free trade area. As a result it will afford trade preferences to the countries that are members of 
COMESA and will receive trade preferences from th em. In contrast, the DRC is also a member of 
the SADC but has not yet acceded to its trade pr otocol and therefore does not participate in 
its free trade area. 
5.16.  Insofar as ECCAS is concerned, the DRC is a participant in policy harmonization processes. 
In that context it participates in the work to implement the ATF in respect of regional measures 
and measures requiring harmonized implementation. 
5.17.  The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a participant in the Trade Negotiations Forum 
(TNF) to liberalize trade in services in the SADC region. Those negotiations are part of the SADC 
Protocol on Trade in Services signed on 18 August 2012. The first round of TNF negotiations concerns transport, communication, finance, tourism, construction and energy.  
5.18.  Furthermore, the DRC is a signatory to the Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt) Declaration of 
10 June 2015 launching the establishment of a free trade area among 26 southern and eastern 
African countries. The Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) will bring together COMESA, the EAC and 
the SADC. Together with the more extensive Continental Free Trade Area for which the African 
Union (AU) has plans in 2017, this initiative will help the DRC de facto  to obtain the optimum 
benefit from its membership of multiple regional economic integration areas. 
6  CONCLUSION 
6.1.  The Democratic Republic of the Congo's first trade policy review acted as an important lever 
for the reforms carried out by the Government to revitalize the country's economic fabric and improve its business climate. WT/TPR/G/339• Democratic Republic of the Congo 
 
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  6.2.  The recommendations made during that review helped the Government focus more keenly on 
matters of interest to national stakeholders and foreign trade partners alike in order to enable the country to participate better in international trade and the multilateral trading system, and increase its attractiveness to investors. 
6.3.  The fruits of this ongoing hard work ar e evident today in the improved health of the 
Congolese economy and its economic indicators. 
6.4.  However, the Government is only too aware that there is still much to be done and to achieve 
as it works towards its strategic development objectives. That is why it intends to capitalize on the 
outcomes of earlier reforms, primarily by taking them further and setting new reform objectives that will among other things help the country to become an integral part of global value chains, enhance the buoyancy of its domestic market and become further integrated into its local 
regional markets.  
6.5.  The end objective is still to achieve sustained growth conducive to development and 
well-being with a view to becoming an emergent economy by 2030. WT/TPR/G/339• Democratic Republic of the Congo 
 
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  ACRONYMS 
ACP   African, Caribbean and Pacific States 
AfDB   African Development Bank ARE   Regulatory Authority for the Electricity Sector  
AU   African Union 
BCC   Central Bank of the Congo CDF   Congolese Franc 
COMESA  Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa 
DDA   Doha Development Agenda DGDA   Directorate-General of Customs and Excise DGRAD  Directorate-General of Administra tive and Government Property Revenue 
DNSC   National Trade Strategy Paper 
DRC   Democratic Republic of the Congo ECCAS  Economic Community of Central African States 
ECGLC  Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries 
EDF   European Development Fund  EDFNAO  EDF National Authorizing Officer 
EITI   Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative 
EPA   Economic Partnership Agreement EPARF  EPA Regional Fund EU   European Union  
FDI   Foreign Direct Investment 
FEC   Federation of Congolese Enterprises 
FNDPC  National Development and Trade Policy Forum 
FPI   Fund for the Promotion of Industry 
HIPC   Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative LDC   Least-Developed Country 
LOFIP   Public Finance Law 
NFI   Net Fiscal Impact OCC   Congolese Control Office OHADA  Organization for the Harmonization of African Business Law 
ONPDA  National Copyright and Related Rights Observatory 
PNEFEB National Programme on the Environment, Forestry, Water Resources and 
Biodiversity 
PNIA   National Agricultural Investment Plan 
PTM   Multimodal Transport Plan PRADA  EPA Regional Development Support Programme 
SADC   Southern African Development Community 
SIGMAP  Automated Government Procurement System SME   Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises SNEL   National Electricity Company 
SOFIDE  Financial Development Company 
STR   Simplified Trade Regime TFTA   Tripartite Free Trade Area 
TNF   Trade Negotiations Forum 
TPR   Trade Policy Review TRIPS   Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights 
WTO   World Trade Organization 
ZES   Special economic zones  
__________