Promote:
Invest in the Republic of the Congo
A short guide for companies expanding into the 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. Republic of the Congo at a glance
PopulationEstimate
6.48 million
Population was 6,484,437 people in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Congo population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDPEstimate
US$16.3 billion
GDP was US$16.3 billion in 2025, in current United States dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, Congo GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per personEstimate
US$2,515
GDP per person was US$2,515 in 2025, in current United States dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, Congo GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growthEstimate
3.1%
Real GDP growth was 3.1 percent in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Congo real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
5.8%
Consumer prices rose 5.8 percent over twelve months to June 2026, per BEAC.
Source: BEAC, CEMAC inflation note, June 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of June 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$596.3 million
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$596 million in 2025.
Source: UNCTADstat, Congo foreign direct investment inflows, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Central African CFA franc (XAF).
Source: BEAC, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 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.
As of 2023, per the WTO review, the API promoted investment under statutes adopted by Decree No. 2013/32 in April 2013. No official text from 2025 or later showing its current activity was found.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Congo, annex, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 16, 2023
The Congolese Agency for Business Creation (ACPCE) is a one-stop shop where company formalities are filed in one place, with one payment and one document.
Source: ACPCE, missions page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
As of 2023, per the WTO review, market stall trading, bread-making and urban transport are reserved to traders of Congolese nationality under Law 19-2005.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Congo, annex, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 16, 2023
As of 2023, per the WTO review, four special economic zones were established: Ouesso, Oyo-Ollombo, Ignié-Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Congo, annex, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 16, 2023
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in the Republic of the Congo
- File the company at the ACPCE single window, which handles the trade register, tax number and social security entries in one visit.Agence Congolaise pour la Création des EntreprisesSingle tax: CFAF 500,000 for capital companies (as of 2023)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Congo, annex, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 16, 2023
- Get the unique identification number (NIU) from the tax directorate, which the ACPCE window also handles.Direction Générale des Impôts et des DomainesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Congo, annex, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 16, 2023
- Apply to the National Investment Commission for approval under the Investment Charter, regime G or S.Commission Nationale des InvestissementsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Congo, Decree 2004-30 on Charter approval, 2004 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of February 18, 2004
- For forestry work, apply for forest permits under the forest code, which sets its own rules and approvals.Ministère de l'Economie ForestièreOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Congo, annex, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 16, 2023
Show 2 more set-up steps
- To use a special economic zone, ask the minister in charge of zones for approval to the zone regime.Ministère du Développement industriel, des Zones économiques spéciales et de la Promotion du secteur privéOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Congo, Law 17-2025 on special economic zones (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of August 14, 2025
- Move funds through a bank under CEMAC exchange rules; zone investors may transfer income and sale proceeds freely, subject to those rules.Banque des États de l'Afrique CentraleOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Congo, Law 17-2025 on special economic zones (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of August 14, 2025
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with DGDDI. 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
- Meet requirements
Business creation one-stop shop
ACPCE
Agence Congolaise pour la Création des Entreprises
Files company formalities in one place, with one payment and one document, and keeps the national company file.
Visit ACPCE (opens in a new tab)Source: ACPCE, missions page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Get advice
Special economic zones authority
APPD-ZES
Agence de planification, de promotion et de développement des zones économiques spéciales
Administers the special economic zones and approves the investment programs of approved investors.
Visit APPD-ZES (opens in a new tab)Source: Congo, Law 17-2025 on special economic zones (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of August 14, 2025
Show 2 more organizations
- Find finance
Small business support fund
FIGA
Fonds d'Impulsion, de Garantie et d'Accompagnement
Supports small and medium enterprises as a body under the ministry in charge of small business.
Visit FIGA (opens in a new tab)Source: Small business ministry, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Official gazette publisher
SGG
Secrétariat Général du Gouvernement
Publishes the Official Journal and Congolese law texts, including the investment and zone laws.
Visit SGG (opens in a new tab)Source: Government General Secretariat, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
DGDDI
Direction Générale des Douanes et des Droits Indirects
Clears exports and imports, applies customs law and compiles foreign trade statistics with other bodies.
Visit DGDDI (opens in a new tab)Source: Finance ministry, customs directorate page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
DGI
Direction Générale des Impôts et des Domaines
Assesses, collects and controls direct and indirect taxes, registration duties and related levies.
Visit DGI (opens in a new tab)Source: Finance ministry, tax directorate page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 4 more organizations
Foreign exchange authority
DGMRFE
Direction Générale de la Monnaie et des Relations Financières avec l'Extérieur
Applies monetary and exchange rules and keeps the balance of payments.
Visit DGMRFE (opens in a new tab)Source: Finance ministry, money and external finance directorate (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Regional central bank
BEAC
Banque des États de l'Afrique Centrale
Regional body
Issues the CFA franc and sets exchange rules for exporters, including bank domiciliation and repatriation of proceeds.
Visit BEAC (opens in a new tab)Source: CEMAC, exchange regulation 02/18, December 2018 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of December 21, 2018
Finance ministry
Ministère des Finances
Ministère des Finances, du Budget et du Portefeuille Public
Hosts the customs, tax and exchange directorates and publishes tax, customs and CEMAC texts.
Visit Ministère des Finances (opens in a new tab)Source: Finance ministry, customs directorate page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Research markets
Regional economic community
CEMAC
Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l'Afrique Centrale
Regional body
Sets the common customs code and external tariff that Congo applies to exports and imports.
Visit CEMAC (opens in a new tab)Source: Finance ministry, CEMAC customs code revision, March 2019 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of March 22, 2019
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
CCIAM-PNR
Chambre de Commerce, d'Industrie, d'Agriculture et des Métiers de Pointe-Noire
Issues certificates of origin and the form A for exports and supports company creation and training.
Visit CCIAM-PNR (opens in a new tab)Source: Pointe-Noire chamber of commerce, export formalities (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Currency and settlement
BEAC Instruction 001/GR/2026 raises the repatriation rate for extractive companies' foreign-currency earnings to 50 percent from 2027 and 70 percent from 2028.
What to do: If you sell oil or minerals, ask your bank how the new repatriation rate applies to your contracts.
Sources: BEAC, Instruction 001/GR/2026 on extractive repatriation, April 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab); CEMAC, exchange regulation 02/18, December 2018 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Inflation rebound
BEAC reports Congo's twelve-month inflation at 5.8 percent in June 2026, against 2.3 percent for the CEMAC region.
What to do: Review price clauses in long contracts, and check the latest rate with BEAC.
Source: BEAC, CEMAC inflation note, June 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Public debt and arrears
The World Bank says public debt reached 98 percent of GDP in the first half of 2026 and a cycle of arrears has weighed on growth.
What to do: Check payment terms and delays with public bodies before you sign a supply contract.
Source: World Bank, Macro Poverty Outlook, Congo, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Oil dependence
The World Bank says oil dependence has caused prolonged volatility and low growth, with income per person down about one-third since 2014.
What to do: Test your project against weaker oil revenue and slower public spending.
Source: World Bank, Macro Poverty Outlook, Congo, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 2 more
Reserved sectors
As of 2023, per the WTO review, market stall trading, bread-making and urban transport are reserved to traders of Congolese nationality.
What to do: Confirm sector rules with the National Investment Commission before you commit capital.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Congo, annex, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
New zone law
Law 17-2025 replaced the 2017 zone law; companies already in zones had six months from its August 14, 2025 publication to comply.
What to do: If you hold a zone approval, confirm your terms under the 2025 law with the zones ministry.
Source: Congo, Law 17-2025 on special economic zones (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
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Promote: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 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.