DRC is endowed with vast natural resources such as gems, copper, ores and cobalt among others.
In 2018, DRC imported goods valued at USD$14.9 billion out of which only 6% was from the East Africa Community (EAC).
Intra-EAC trade was as follows: exported goods and services valued at USD$4 billion and imported $2.5 billion.
EAC member countries imports the following goods from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): coffee, tea, books, wood, steel and iron.
EAC exports to DRC: musical instruments, arms & ammunition, aircraft, raw hides & skins, medicinal plants and works of art.
According to AfDB Economic Outlook report of 2019, EAC was the fasted growing region in Africa for the 5th year in a row.
The EAC member countries faces many challenges such as high rates of unemployment more especially among the youth and political instability.
Among the EAC member states, Kenya’s public budget for fiscal year 2019/2020 was the highest at USD$30 billion followed by Tanzania’s $14.3 billion, Uganda ($9.1 billion) and Rwanda had $3.2 billion.
Democratic Republic of Congo has a population of 81 million people and EAC member countries look forward to benefit from the large market. The actors will also benefit from DRC’s hard wood supply from the country’s forests covering 156 million hectares of land under rain forest.
DRC is endowed with millions of acres of fertile agricultural land which can possible serve as a leading producer of agricultural goods.
DRC is well known for its large quantities of minerals such as diamond, gold, copper and cobalt globally.
In 2019, the wealth of minerals in DRC was estimated to be USD$ 24 trillion. Despite this astronomical wealth, DRC still remain poor and under-developed.
Finally, insecurity is an issue of concern in DRC considering that there are more than 120 rebel groups in DRC most of the in Eastern Congo.
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