Kinshasa, 18 December 2024 - The Ministry of Foreign Trade of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the support of the government of Denmark (DANIDA), organized a workshop to review and validate the report on the Green Supplement to the National Implementation Strategy of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on 18 December 2024 in Kinshasa, DRC.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders, including government representatives, technical experts and private sector players, to integrate principles of environmental sustainability and climate resilience into national value chains.
The DRC faces a strategic challenge for sustainable development. The aim of the green supplement is to transform priority sectors, especially the wood industry, non-wood forest products and oilseeds, into engines of sustainable development. These value chains are essential for generating added value, creating jobs and protecting the environment, while strengthening the DRC's position in intra-African trade.
The workshop highlighted several key aspects, including the presentation of the results of the green value chain opportunities analysis, the validation of methodological approaches and interactive debates.
The presentation of the results of the analysis of green value chain opportunities offered an overview of untapped potential for sustainable development, which led to the validation of methodological approaches for integrating climate and economic strategies into the implementation of the AfCFTA. Discussions also focused on the incentives needed to attract green investment and strengthen economic resilience.
Representatives of the DRC government and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) delivered opening remarks at the workshop. The Secretary General at the Ministry of Foreign Trade, Mr. Jules Muilo Mbo emphasized that “this green supplement represents a major step towards aligning the DRC's commercial ambitions with the requirements of environmental and social sustainability.”
For his part, the Head of the Sub-Regional Initiatives Section at the ECA Office for Central Africa, Mr. Adama Coulibaly said “the integration of green value chains into the AfCFTA is a powerful lever for inclusive and resilient economic transformation.”
The recommendations formulated during this workshop will serve as a basis for finalizing the Green Supplement, guiding the DRC towards effective implementation. This strategic document will strengthen regional cooperation and stimulate investment in sustainable and inclusive economic development.