The African Development Bank Group has approved a $159.5 million loan to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to enhance connectivity to the Ngandajika Agro-Industrial Park, a strategic initiative aimed at opening up the country’s central region. The total cost of the project is $177.16 million, with additional co-financing from the Congolese government. This investment seeks to integrate the agro-industrial park more effectively into the main economic corridors of central DRC, supporting broader regional economic development.
The project focuses on upgrading key transport infrastructure, including the Nkuadi–Ngandajika–PAIN and Lukalaba–Ngandajika roads, as well as improving connecting sections between National Roads 1 and 2 (RN1 and RN2). It also involves extending the runway at Mbuji-Mayi airport to facilitate the growth of agro-industrial air freight. According to Léandre Bassolé, the African Development Bank’s Director General for Central Africa, the project goes beyond road upgrades, aiming to strengthen value chains, open new trade corridors, and create economic opportunities for competitiveness, job creation, and inclusion, particularly for women and youth.
The improved infrastructure is expected to directly benefit farmers, transporters, and agro-industrial operators in Lomami province, the Ngandajika park area, and Kasaï Oriental by lowering logistics costs and enhancing market access. The project emphasizes the empowerment of women and young people, who are key participants in local agricultural and commercial activities, by providing them with new economic opportunities.
This initiative forms part of the African Development Bank Group’s Agricultural Transformation Programme (PTA) and complements the Support Programme for the Development of the Ngandajika Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (PRODAN). It also aligns with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), promoting trade and regional connectivity.
Johnny Makwela, the project task manager, highlighted that one of the main constraints limiting the competitiveness of the Ngandajika agro-industrial park has been the lack of reliable transport infrastructure. The planned road upgrades and enhanced air access are expected to reduce logistics costs and accelerate the integration of producers into agro-industrial value chains.
Overall, the project supports the development of agricultural value chains, strengthens food security, and enhances the competitiveness of local production. It directly contributes to the implementation of the Bank Group’s 2023–2028 Country Strategy Paper for the DRC, reinforcing sustainable economic growth and regional integration.
