Egypt, DR Congo Sign Trade, Investment Cooperation Protocol to Boost Private-Sector Partnerships

Arab Women Investors Union and representatives of the Democratic Republic of the Congo signed a cooperation protocol aimed at expanding trade and investment ties, in a move officials said reflects growing economic cooperation between Egypt and African partners.

The agreement was signed by Arab Women Investors Union President Hoda Yassa and Henry Désiré Nzouzi, adviser to the Congolese government and general coordinator of the Congolese trade mission, during the Egyptian-Congolese Trade and Investment Forum in Cairo. The ceremony was attended by Ambassador Mohamed Karim Sherif, Egypt's Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs.

Sherif said the initiative aligns with Egypt's strategy to strengthen economic partnerships with African countries and enhance private-sector cooperation as part of the country's Africa Cooperation Strategy 2026. He noted that the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a Nile Basin country, hosts several Egyptian companies involved in infrastructure and reconstruction projects.

Yassa said the protocol is designed to create stronger commercial and investment links between Egyptian, Arab and Congolese private-sector companies. She added that the Congolese trade delegation concluded 14 commercial cooperation agreements during business meetings with members of the union and reached preliminary agreements to establish three joint Egyptian-Congolese manufacturing projects.

The forum was held under the theme "Towards Strategic Partnerships and Promising Investment Opportunities" at the conclusion of a trade mission that included visits to factories in Cairo, Alexandria and the Tenth of Ramadan industrial city. The delegation toured manufacturing facilities in sectors including food processing, printing, paper products, flooring, garments and coffee production to explore opportunities for industrial cooperation and technology transfer.

Business-to-business meetings were also organized to encourage trade, attract investment and open new export markets for Egyptian products in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Central Africa.

Nzouzi said the agreement would strengthen commercial and investment exchanges between the two countries and confirmed that a large Congolese delegation will participate in the Arab-African Investment and International Cooperation Summit, scheduled to be held in Luxor from Oct. 18 to 22.

Members of the Congolese delegation described the mission as highly successful, citing factory visits, business matchmaking and agreements signed with Egyptian partners as key outcomes. They also expressed interest in expanding cooperation in technical support, skills development and industrial expertise.

Egyptian business leaders attending the forum reaffirmed their commitment to increasing investment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including plans to launch new industrial projects and deepen economic cooperation between the two countries.