The Democratic Republic of the Congo is preparing a national export task force designed to carry more Congolese products from local farms and factories to shelves around the world.
The initiative brings a powerful new meaning to the Made in DRC label. Coffee, cocoa, palm oil, chilli peppers, soy, sesame, rubber, timber and other products could gain stronger access to major markets in China, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union.
The decision followed an August 4 technical meeting in Kinshasa between Minister of Foreign Trade Julien Paluku Kahongya and experts from the National Agency for Export Promotion, known as ANAPEX, led by its director-general, Mike Tambwe Lubemba.
According to Opinion Info, the planned task force will unite specialists from the ministries responsible for agriculture, rural development, industry, foreign trade and the environment. Technical bodies, including the Congolese Control Office, will also participate.
Their shared mission will be to strengthen the quality, certification, competitiveness and traceability of Congolese goods prepared for export.
One Team to Promote Congolese Excellence
The task force will create a coordinated national platform around a clear objective: help Congolese producers meet the standards required by international buyers.
For farmers, cooperatives, processors and exporters, this work can open the door to better packaging, reliable certification, stronger quality control and clearer routes to foreign markets. For international buyers and investors, it offers a more structured path to discovering products grown and processed in one of Africa's most resource-rich countries.
The strategy also places agriculture and local industry at the centre of Congo's economic growth. Every bag of coffee, box of cocoa, bottle of palm oil or package of dried chilli exported under the Made in DRC label can promote Congolese expertise while supporting value chains at home.
Major Markets Are Opening to Made in DRC Products
| ECONOMY
Government Prepares “Made in DRC” Export Task Force
Aug 4, 2026
Aug 4, 2026
6 min read
Published
Updated:
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is preparing a national export task force designed to carry more Congolese products from local farms and factories to shelves around the world.
The initiative brings a powerful new meaning to the Made in DRC label. Coffee, cocoa, palm oil, chilli peppers, soy, sesame, rubber, timber and other products could gain stronger access to major markets in China, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union.
The decision followed an August 4 technical meeting in Kinshasa between Minister of Foreign Trade Julien Paluku Kahongya and experts from the National Agency for Export Promotion, known as ANAPEX, led by its director-general, Mike Tambwe Lubemba.
According to Opinion Info, the planned task force will unite specialists from the ministries responsible for agriculture, rural development, industry, foreign trade and the environment. Technical bodies, including the Congolese Control Office, will also participate.
Their shared mission will be to strengthen the quality, certification, competitiveness and traceability of Congolese goods prepared for export.
One Team to Promote Congolese Excellence
The task force will create a coordinated national platform around a clear objective: help Congolese producers meet the standards required by international buyers.
For farmers, cooperatives, processors and exporters, this work can open the door to better packaging, reliable certification, stronger quality control and clearer routes to foreign markets. For international buyers and investors, it offers a more structured path to discovering products grown and processed in one of Africa's most resource-rich countries.
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The strategy also places agriculture and local industry at the centre of Congo's economic growth. Every bag of coffee, box of cocoa, bottle of palm oil or package of dried chilli exported under the Made in DRC label can promote Congolese expertise while supporting value chains at home.
Major Markets Are Opening to Made in DRC Products
The government and ANAPEX have identified significant commercial openings for Congolese businesses.
In China, the opportunities presented during the meeting included annual demand for 180,000 tonnes of dried chilli peppers and 50,000 tonnes of cocoa. ANAPEX is already accompanying a Congolese agribusiness project focused on exporting chilli peppers to China, showing how national export promotion can connect local entrepreneurs with large international markets.
The official ANAPEX report says the agency is supporting the practical steps required to develop the project and strengthen the competitiveness of Congolese products abroad.
In the United Kingdom, 99.8% of Congolese products reportedly qualify for duty-free access.
The United Arab Emirates has also opened commercial opportunities for nearly 6,000 Made in DRC products, providing another major destination for Congolese producers seeking global customers.
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These openings can give farmers, small businesses, cooperatives and growing industries the confidence to increase production, invest in processing and build relationships with international distributors.
Traceability Will Build Global Confidence
ANAPEX has proposed a modern traceability system using the geolocation of agricultural production areas. This approach can help buyers identify where products were grown and confirm that Congolese exports meet the standards of their destination markets.
Traceability is especially valuable for cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soy, sesame, timber and related products entering the European Union. By preparing producers for new European market requirements, the DRC can protect access to valuable buyers and strengthen confidence in the Made in DRC label.
Certification and traceability can also help Congolese products stand out for their origin, quality and authenticity. From Kivu coffee and Congolese cocoa to chilli peppers, sesame and palm oil, the country has a diverse agricultural identity ready for wider international recognition.
New Possibilities for Farmers, Businesses and Investors
The export task force represents more than a trade initiative. It is a bridge connecting Congolese production with global demand.
Greater access to international markets can encourage investment in farming, storage, laboratories, packaging, transport and local processing. These activities can create new opportunities for young people, women-led businesses, rural communities and Congolese entrepreneurs across the value chain.
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International partners can also find opportunities to work with Congolese producers in logistics, quality testing, processing technology, sustainable agriculture, distribution and export finance.
ANAPEX has already brought together public institutions, private businesses and agricultural operators to strengthen export-oriented value chains. During its July agricultural-export meetings in Kinshasa, the agency encouraged producers and processors to improve quality, expand production and build lasting partnerships with Chinese companies.
ANAPEX said it would continue helping Congolese operators prepare their products for international markets and promote the Made in DRC label.
From Congolese Soil to Global Shelves
The DRC is widely known for its mineral wealth, but its farms, forests, entrepreneurs and processing industries offer another powerful economic story.
By aligning production with international standards and building a trusted export system, the government is creating a platform that can introduce more of Congo's agricultural strength to the world.
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