# **TABLE OF CONTENTS**

|**Abbre**|**viations ..................................................................................................................................... 3**|
|---|---|
|**Ackno**|**wledgements............................................................................................................................. 4**|
|**Execut**|**ive Summary ........................................................................................................................... 5**|
|**1. Int**|**roduction .................................................................................................................................. 7**|
|**2. Cro**|**ss-Border Economic Exchanges in the Lower Congo Region ........................................... 8**|
|_2.1_|_The Economic Geography of the Lower Congo Region_...................................................... 8|
|_2.2_|_Trade in Goods and Services: DRC and RC_...................................................................... 10|
|_2.3_|_Passenger Traffic_............................................................................................................... 14|
|**3. Ass**<br>**Evi**|**essing the Potential for Cross-Border Integration in Kinshasa and Brazzaville: New**<br>**dence ...................................................................................................................................... 15**|
|_3.1_|_Price Survey_....................................................................................................................... 16|
|_3.2_|_Survey of Trading Firms_.................................................................................................... 20|
|**4. Bar**|**riers to Cross-Border Integration ...................................................................................... 24**|
|_4.1_|_Malebo Pool: Choked by a Duopoly_.................................................................................. 24|
|_4.2_|_Kisangani: How It Could Work_......................................................................................... 29|
|_4.3_|_Upriver Transport: Natural and Man-Made Hazards_....................................................... 31|
|**5. Pol**|**icy Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 31**|
|_5.1_|_General Cross-Border Traffic: Transport and Trade_........................................................ 32|
|_5.2_|_Kinshasa-Brazzaville: Unblocking the Bottleneck_............................................................. 34|
|**6. Co**|**nclusions ................................................................................................................................. 36**|
|**Refere**|**nces ......................................................................................................................................... 38**|
|**Appen**|**dix 1: List of Local Interview Partners ............................................................................... 39**|
|**Appen**|**dix 2: Goods Included in Price Study ................................................................................. 41**|

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