Over 25 companies from Tanzania will be at the first Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo Trade Forum to discuss growing trade, investment opportunities and collaboration between the two countries that will explore different opportunities to secure investment in the Tanzania-DR Congo economic corridor.

The forum which will take place in Lubumbashi next week is aimed at bringing together high level private sector operators from both Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Forum Manager Ms Naomi Godwin told press conference in the city yesterday that over 100 key business players from Tanzania and Republic Democratic of Congo and decision makers are expect to attend this private sector driven forum.

“On keeping the strong relationship between these two countries, Tanzania and DR Congo trade forum will acknowledge the benefits to invest in agri-business in both countries,” Ms Godwin said.

“It shall also look into the significant potential for promoting the ease of doing business in order to create a conducive environment for entrepreneurs and attract investments in manufacturing industry and transportation services as trade is the backbone of every economy.

Ms Godwin said that expected outcomes of the trade forum is to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance trade relations between two countries, increased volume of exports between both countries and it improved conducive environment for trade between both countries.

Under the theme “Strengthening bilateral Trade and Investment opportunities” the forum will assemble over 100 key business players from Tanzania and DR Congo’s Private Sectors. It will also include key policy decision makers from both governments.

Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) Acting Executive Director Mr Louis Accaro said that DR Congo has been showing much interest in energy and mineral exploration from Tanzania oil and gas sector as the consultations began at the end of August this year in Dar es Salaam in order to enable Kinshasa to export its oil through the proposed pipeline system from Hoima in Uganda to the Tanga port in Tanzania.

He said, apart from that, this annual Tanzania DR Congo Trade Forum comes after the growth in the economy of Democratic Republic of Congo in 2015 to 7.7 percent, as it has been reported by World Bank.

He pointed out that their performance is driven by robust extractive industries and related investments despite the global economic slowdown and the decline in the demand and price of minerals exported by the democratic republic of Congo.

The Forum is organised with Tanzania’s Embassy in DR Congo in collaboration with Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA); Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TANTRADE), Federation des Enterprises du Congo (FEC), Tanzania Truck owners Association (TATOA) Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) and 361 Degrees.