Promote:
Invest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
A short guide for companies expanding into the Democratic Republic of the Congo: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Democratic Republic of the Congo at a glance
Population
112.8 million
Population was 112,832,473 people in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Democratic Republic of the Congo population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$91 billion
GDP was US$91.0 billion in 2025, in current United States dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, Democratic Republic of the Congo GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$807
GDP per person was US$807 in 2025, in current United States dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, DR Congo GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
5.8%
Real GDP growth was 5.8 percent in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, DR Congo real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
8.9%
Consumer prices rose 8.872 percent over the twelve months to the fourth week of October 2026, per the central bank's statistics page.
Source: Central Bank of the Congo, inflation statistics page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of Fourth week of October 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$1.87 billion
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$1.87 billion in 2025, per UNCTAD.
Source: UNCTADstat, DR Congo FDI inflows, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Congolese franc (CDF).
Source: Central Bank of the Congo, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
ANAPI is the national investment promotion agency, a public body under the planning ministry that acts as the one-stop agency for investors.
Source: ANAPI, about page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
ANAPI runs the investment approval one-stop shop, and a separate business start-up single window registers companies.
Source: WTO Secretariat report on the DR Congo, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 23, 2026
Under Law 17/001 of 2017 on subcontracting, ancillary and related activities are reserved to companies at least 51 percent Congolese-owned, per the regulator.
Source: Subcontracting regulator, frequently asked questions (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
As of 2026, per the WTO review, seven special economic zones were under development and one, Maluku, was operating.
Source: WTO Secretariat report on the DR Congo, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 23, 2026
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Register the company at the business start-up single window; it takes up to three working days from a complete file.Guichet Unique de Création d'EntrepriseUS$80 with notarized articles, US$70 with private-signature articles; up to 3 working daysOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO Secretariat report on the DR Congo, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 23, 2026
- Get a tax identification number from the tax authority, online or at a tax office.Direction Générale des ImpôtsFree of charge; valid indefinitelyOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Tax authority, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Apply to the investment agency for approval; the approval board decides, and the law treats silence after the time limit as approval.Agence Nationale pour la Promotion des InvestissementsFiling fee US$1,000 (large companies) or US$500 (small and medium projects); up to 30 working daysOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ANAPI, approval procedure page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- For mining, apply for a research permit at the mining cadastre, then an exploitation permit; other sectors have their own procedures.Cadastre MinierOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ANAPI, mining investment procedure page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 2 more set-up steps
- For farmland, get an ordinary land concession, which foreigners can hold for 25 years, renewable, after a customary authority agreement and land survey.Ministère des Affaires FoncièresOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ANAPI, agricultural land concession page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Move capital in and out through authorized banks under the foreign exchange regulation, which the Investment Code backs with a freedom to transfer capital.Banque Centrale du CongoOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO Secretariat report on the DR Congo, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 23, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with ANAPI and DGDA. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Get advice
National investment promotion agency
ANAPI
Agence Nationale pour la Promotion des Investissements
Receives investment projects, reviews them for approval under the Investment Code and publishes the investment procedures by sector.
Visit ANAPI (opens in a new tab)Source: ANAPI, approval procedure page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get advice
Special economic zones agency
AZES
Agence des Zones Economiques Spéciales
Works with developers and companies on special economic zone partnerships and publishes its activity reports.
Visit AZES (opens in a new tab)Source: Special economic zones agency, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 1 more organization
Land affairs ministry
Land Affairs Ministry
Ministère des Affaires Foncières
Identifies land for concessions and runs the land title offices that sign the concession contract.
Visit Land Affairs Ministry (opens in a new tab)Source: ANAPI, agricultural land concession page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs and excise authority
DGDA
Direction Générale des Douanes et Accises
Runs the electronic customs system that handles import, export and transit declarations.
Visit DGDA (opens in a new tab)Source: Customs and excise authority, SYDONIA page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
DGI
Direction Générale des Impôts
Issues the tax identification number that every economic activity needs and runs online tax filing.
Visit DGI (opens in a new tab)Source: Tax authority, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 1 more organization
- Meet requirements
Central bank
BCC
Banque Centrale du Congo
Sets the foreign exchange rules, including the declaration and return of export proceeds.
Visit BCC (opens in a new tab)Source: Central bank exchange regulation, March 2014 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of March 28, 2014
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Business federation and chamber
FEC
Fédération des Entreprises du Congo
Represents member companies before public authorities and helps them with legal, social and tax questions.
Visit FEC (opens in a new tab)Source: Federation of Congolese Enterprises, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Logistics and border performance
The WTO review says customs does not apply the preferential tariffs of regional agreements, and that red tape, border delays and weak transport links raise trade costs.
What to do: Do not assume a regional preference in your price; confirm the treatment with customs and your buyer.
Source: WTO Secretariat report on the DR Congo, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Currency and settlement
Twelve-month inflation reached 8.9 percent in the fourth week of October 2026, and more than 90 percent of banking activity is in United States dollars.
What to do: Confirm the current exchange rate and inflation figures with the central bank before you price in francs.
Sources: Central bank weekly economic note, October 23, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab); WTO Secretariat report on the DR Congo, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Reserved sectors
The WTO review reports no foreign retail trade, a 49 percent foreign cap in agro-industry, 25 percent Congolese equity in telecoms and Congolese participation rules in subcontracting.
What to do: Ask the investment agency whether your activity is reserved before you set up your project.
Sources: WTO Secretariat report on the DR Congo, 2026 (opens in a new tab); Subcontracting regulator, frequently asked questions (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Local content law
A local content law and amendments to the subcontracting law were promulgated on June 30, 2026 and published in the Official Journal of July 8, 2026.
What to do: Read the new texts and ask the subcontracting regulator how they apply to your project.
Sources: Subcontracting regulator, legal texts page (in French) (opens in a new tab); Official Journal, July 8, 2026, first page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 3 more
Electricity
Access to electricity was 10.3 percent in 2024, with frequent outages, which the WTO review says limits industrial development.
What to do: Check power supply at your site before you choose a location, and arrange backup power.
Source: WTO Secretariat report on the DR Congo, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Public health
The central bank's weekly note of October 23, 2026 says the services sector is affected by an Ebola epidemic.
What to do: Check current health and entry rules with the authorities before you arrange site visits or staff travel.
Source: Central bank weekly economic note, October 23, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Investment Code revision
Work to revise the 2002 Investment Code began in November 2025, so the incentive rules may change.
What to do: Ask the investment agency which version of the Code applies to your application.
Sources: ANAPI, Investment Code revision news, November 11, 2025 (in French) (opens in a new tab); Investment Code, Law 004/2002, ANAPI copy (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare the Democratic Republic of the Congo with other countriesSet the Democratic Republic of the Congo beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
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Promote:Democratic Republic of the Congo is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 30, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.