More than 300 business-to-business (B2B) meetings were held on Tuesday, organized by the Tunisian Export Promotion Centre (CEPEX) in coordination with the Tunisian Embassy and CEPEX office in Kinshasa. The aim was to strengthen economic cooperation and explore investment opportunities between Tunisia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to organizers, the meetings were designed to help Tunisian professionals access sub-Saharan markets, expand and diversify trade and develop new industrial and investment partnerships.
This initiative aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, providing a strategic framework to boost African economic integration and open new opportunities for Tunisian companies in promising markets.
CEPEX Market Studies Director Riadh Bezzarga, noted that over 50 Tunisian companies and 9 Congolese businesspeople participated, active in high-value sectors such as agri-food (especially olive oil), construction, public works, and services.
Bezzarga highlighted that the Congolese market has strong growth potential and increasing demand for high-quality products and services, attracting Tunisian exports in engineering services, mechanical and electrical industries, construction materials, and agri-food.
He also emphasized Tunisia’s role as a strategic gateway to North African and European markets, enhancing economic integration prospects between the two countries.
However, he pointed out export challenges to the DRC and sub-Saharan Africa, including logistical issues, political instability in certain countries and difficulties Tunisian companies face in securing bank financing.
Yvan Kubuya, Market Studies Officer at the DRC Ministry of Foreign Trade, stressed the importance of these meetings in opening new markets and boosting trade between the two countries, particularly in mechanical, electrical, and agri-food sectors.
He called Tunisia “an important partner for the DRC” but noted that bilateral trade remains below potential and that some agreements between the two sides are still delayed.
The Congolese mission program continues through Wednesday, including field visits to around 70 Tunisian exporting companies in environmental services, agri-food, and pharmaceuticals.
Trade between Tunisia and the DRC remains below potential, reaching nearly 16.4 million Tunisian dinars in 2025, according to CEPEX.
