AfDB Approves $159.5M to Boost DRC Agro-Industrial Connectivity and Trade Corridors

Women and youth, who play a central role in local agriculture and commerce, are expected to see expanded economic opportunities as improved infrastructure boosts market access and productivity.

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a $159.50 million loan to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to strengthen transport infrastructure and improve connectivity to the Ngandajika Agro-Industrial Park, a key economic hub in the country’s central region. With a total project cost of $177.16 million, the initiative is co-financed by the Government of the DRC.

The Project to Strengthen Connectivity at the Ngandajika Agro-Industrial Park represents a major step toward integrating rural production zones with national and regional markets, supporting agricultural transformation, and enhancing Central Africa’s economic integration.

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A Strategic Investment to Unlock Central DRC’s Economic Potential

The project will upgrade critical road sections including:

• Nkuadi–Ngandajika–PAIN Road

• Lukalaba–Ngandajika Road

• Connecting segments between National Road 1 (RN1) and National Road 2 (RN2)

It will also extend the Mbuji-Mayi airport runway, enabling the development of agro-industrial air freight, which is expected to facilitate the movement of high-value goods and reduce transport delays.

These improvements will help integrate Ngandajika more effectively into DRC’s main economic corridors, linking farmers and agro-industrial operators with regional and international markets.

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Driving Regional Integration, Competitiveness, and Inclusive Growth

Léandre Bassolé, AfDB Director General for Central Africa, emphasized the transformative impact of the initiative:

“This project is a major milestone for Central Africa’s economic integration and for advancing agricultural industrialization in the DRC. By improving access to the Ngandajika Agro-Industrial Park, we are strengthening a critical value chain, opening new trade corridors, and creating powerful opportunities for competitiveness, jobs, and economic inclusion—especially for women and young people.”

Improved connectivity will reduce travel times, cut logistics costs, and increase the flow of goods—benefiting:

• Farmers

• Transport operators

• Agro-industrial processors

• Small rural enterprises

Women and youth, who play a central role in local agriculture and commerce, are expected to see expanded economic opportunities as improved infrastructure boosts market access and productivity.

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Supporting Value Chains, Food Security, and National Development Goals

The project is aligned with AfDB’s Agricultural Transformation Programme (PTA) and complements the ongoing PRODAN initiative—both aimed at catalyzing agricultural value chains, improving food security, and elevating rural incomes.

It also supports broader continental goals under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by improving trade connectivity and promoting cross-border economic activity.

Project task manager Johnny Makwela highlighted the project’s role in removing key bottlenecks:

“This project will remove one of the main constraints limiting the competitiveness of the Ngandajika agro-industrial park: the lack of reliable transport infrastructure. The new road links and improved air access will significantly reduce logistics costs and accelerate producer integration into agro-industrial value chains.”

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Aligned with the DRC’s 2023–2028 Development Strategy

The initiative directly contributes to the AfDB’s 2023–2028 Country Strategy Paper for the DRC, which prioritizes:

• Economic diversification

• Infrastructure development

• Agricultural transformation

• Improved regional connectivity

By expanding access to markets and strengthening transport networks, the project is expected to:

• Improve food distribution systems

• Boost agricultural exports

• Enhance rural resilience

• Support long-term economic stability