Article – Improving cross-border trade through cooperation between the DRC and South Africa
Traffic congestion at the Kasumbalesa border is a recurring problem affecting both the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa. It is with this in mind that the national Minister of Transport, Marc Ekila, led a Congolese delegation to South Africa to explore solutions aimed at decongesting road traffic and improving trade between the two SADC member countries.
During their three-day stay in South Africa, Marc Ekila and his delegation signed several cooperation agreements in the transport sector. These five-year agreements involve the airways and civil aviation authorities of both countries. This collaboration aims to improve the quality and efficiency of air transport between the DRC and South Africa.
But that’s not all, the discussions also focused on rail transport. With this in mind, the South African company Gibela Rail Transport, specializing in the manufacture of passenger trains, has shown itself ready to settle in the DRC in order to contribute to the revival of the SNCC (National Railway Company du Congo) and ONATRA (National Transport Office). This expansion of Gibela Rail Transport in the DRC would significantly modernize and improve the country’s rail network.
In parallel, another South African company, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), has also planned to set up a passenger train manufacturing plant in Kinshasa. This initiative is part of the government’s vision to modernize the railway circuit in the DRC.
These cooperation initiatives between the DRC and South Africa in the field of transport are encouraging. They will not only decongest road traffic at the Kasumbalesa border, but also strengthen trade and bilateral relations between the two countries. In addition, the installation of companies specializing in the manufacture of trains in the DRC will contribute to the revival of the railway sector and the improvement of population mobility.
In conclusion, cooperation between the DRC and South Africa in the field of transport opens up new prospects for improving cross-border trade and the efficiency of transport infrastructure in the two countries. These initiatives represent an important step towards economic development and the facilitation of travel between the two nations