Construction of the “Little Barrier” border post in Goma, North Kivu: a major step forward for trade in the region
The Minister of State, Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works, Alexis Gisaro Muvunyi, recently kicked off construction work on the “Small Barrier” border post in Goma, capital of the North Kivu province. . This project, supported by state and private partners as well as provincial authorities, aims to facilitate trade in the Great Lakes region.
The construction of this border post will be entrusted to the Société Générale Congolaise (SGC) and should be completed within nine months, for a total cost estimated at 7,226,995.66 USD. Once completed, this border post will bring together border management administrations as well as modern infrastructure such as weighbridges and warehouses on a single platform. This modernization will allow more efficient management of flows of goods and people, thus promoting the economic development of the region.
This project benefits from financial support from the World Bank, which has highlighted the importance of this initiative in bringing security and stability to the region and the country as a whole. In a second phase of the project, support will be provided to cooperatives to guarantee compliance with the standards necessary for the export of their products. These investments aim to reduce border crossing times, reduce administrative hassle and promote local economic development.
Minister Alexis Gisaro Muvunyi stressed that this trade facilitation project will have a positive impact on the socio-economic well-being of the Congolese populations and will allow the DRC to regain an important place in the economy of the Great Lakes region. . The construction of this new border post will meet international standards and will offer facilities adapted to the various services and organizations operating at the border.
The Mayor of the city of Goma, Principal Commissioner Faustin Kapend Kamand, recalled the importance of this border post which records a significant flow of people and goods. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, around 60,000 people crossed the border daily and the value of goods passing through this crossing was worth more than half a billion US dollars in 2022.
The construction of the “Small Barrier” border post in Goma represents a major step forward for trade in the region. By facilitating trade, reducing administrative hassles and improving the management of flows of goods and people, this project will contribute to the economic and social development of the North Kivu province and the entire DRC.