The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) has mobilised over 50 Zambian enterprises on a high-level trade mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a move aimed at strengthening cross-border commerce and expanding Zambia’s footprint in one of Africa’s fastest-growing markets.
The mission running from 26 October to 1 November 2025 in Haut-Katanga Province, Lubumbashi, is jointly organised by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises Development and the Lobito Corridor Trade Facilitation Project. Together, these institutions are working to deepen Zambia’s participation in regional value chains and promote non-traditional exports (NTEs) beyond copper.
“The objective of the trade mission is to continue facilitating the growth of Zambia’s non-traditional exports (NTEs) and to secure more market access for Zambian products. The Agency hopes to continue penetrating, consolidating, and expanding the Congolese market for Zambian products,” said ZDA in a statement ahead of the delegation’s departure.
The initiative is part of ZDA’s broader strategy to penetrate, consolidate and expand Zambia’s share of the Congolese market, which has become an increasingly vital destination for Zambian goods and services.
The DRC remains one of Zambia’s largest trading partners, with growing demand for agricultural produce, processed foods, construction materials, mining equipment and engineering services. The mission aims to secure new supply contracts and distribution partnerships, helping Zambian exporters capture a greater share of the DRC’s consumer and industrial markets.
The delegation includes companies from agriculture, agro-processing, mining, engineering, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, representing the diversity and dynamism of Zambia’s emerging private sector.
The week-long mission will open with a high-level business forum attended by Congolese government officials and industry players, followed by B2B matchmaking sessions and exhibitions designed to link Zambian producers with Congolese buyers.
This format, a hallmark of ZDA’s trade promotion model, reflects a more pragmatic and partnership-driven approach to African market development. It also highlights how entrepreneurship and SME participation are becoming central to Africa’s intra-continental trade ambitions, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
The inclusion of the Lobito Corridor Trade Facilitation Project adds a critical logistical dimension to the mission. The corridor connecting Zambia, Angola and the DRC is fast becoming a strategic trade route for Southern and Central Africa, providing alternative export pathways and reducing dependence on traditional ports.
For small and medium enterprises, the corridor’s expansion promises lower transport costs, shorter delivery times and improved access to new regional markets, particularly for landlocked Zambia.
ZDA’s current export diversification drive aligns with Zambia’s ambition to boost non-traditional exports to over US$2 billion annually. By facilitating access to neighbouring markets, the agency hopes to enhance industrial productivity and build a stronger base for regional competitiveness.
For the participating entrepreneurs, the mission is not only an opportunity to secure deals but also to exchange expertise, explore joint ventures and strengthen Africa-to-Africa trade a key step toward reducing dependence on external markets.
As Africa’s economies increasingly turn inward for growth, Zambia’s proactive engagement in DRC underscores a powerful truth that the future of African business lies in African markets built by African entrepreneurs for African consumers.
