The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy, Daniel Mukoko Samba, has initiated a sensitization campaign targeting economic operators on the implementation of a new decree regulating small business and retail trade in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The decree, n°26/011, was issued on March 30, 2026, and aims to better structure the domestic market and clarify rules governing commercial activities.
During a meeting held in Kinshasa with professional and employers' associations, as well as economic operators, Minister Mukoko Samba explained the main provisions of the reform. The reform seeks to better organize the commercial sector while ensuring balanced competition among economic actors. According to the minister, certain activities, such as small business and retail trade, are reserved exclusively for Congolese nationals.
However, the minister noted that certain categories of activities remain accessible to foreign investors under well-defined conditions. He specified that ten categories of activities with high capital intensity are open to foreign operators. These activities require significant investment, and foreign operators must obtain a non-objection opinion from the Ministry of National Economy before operating in these sectors.
The government emphasizes that this reform does not aim to exclude any category of economic actors but rather to define their roles clearly, promoting a more orderly and competitive commercial environment. Minister Mukoko Samba recalled that the development of this measure was preceded by consultations with various stakeholders in the sector.
A well-functioning market relies on the complementarity of all actors in the commercial chain, according to the minister. Producers, importers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers each play a vital role in the country's economic dynamics. The minister stressed that clear rules are necessary to enable each actor to develop in conditions of balanced competition.
Through this initiative, the government aims to strengthen the organization of domestic trade and create a more transparent regulatory framework for national and foreign investors. The authorities hope to foster the emergence of a more structured economy, capable of supporting local entrepreneurship while attracting the necessary capital for the development of sectors with high investment intensity.
The government's goal is to create an environment that allows all economic actors to thrive, with clear rules and balanced competition. This, in turn, is expected to drive economic growth and development in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The sensitization campaign is a crucial step in implementing the new decree and ensuring its success.
Key points
- The new decree reserves small business and retail trade for Congolese nationals, while allowing foreign investors to participate in certain categories of activities with high capital intensity.
- The government aims to create a more orderly and competitive commercial environment through the reform.
- The reform is expected to promote local entrepreneurship and attract foreign investment in sectors with high investment intensity.
