Special Economic Zone (SEZ)

Rédigé le 01/05/2020
ANAPI

SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE (SEZ)

I. Legal framework

  • Law n° 14/022 of 7 July 2014 establishing the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) regime in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This law aims to "promote investment by creating special economic zones as per Articles 34, paragraph 3 of the Constitution."

Objectives of the law

  1. Improve the legal and institutional framework so as to attract and safeguard the national and foreign private investment, thus promoting the country’s development ;
  2. Simplify the administrative procedures to further improve the business climate and attract investment ;
  3. Strengthen the dispute resolution mechanisms related to investment ;
  4. Provide an incentive business environment, transparent and consistent in order to encourage the national and foreign private investment which will generate the growth and employment and increase competition in the Democratic Republic of Congo ;
  5. Setting the rules of organization and functioning of special economic zones, their missions and their boundaries ;
  6. Determine the supervisory powers of the Agency for Special Economic Zones, including its exclusive and private skills ;
  7. Clarify the rules to be applied to companies that can operate in special economic zones, except with respect to tax and customs arrangements to be set out in the Finance Act.

II. Sites for establishing Special Economic Zones

N° Zones Activities
1 West
Section : Kinshasa-Inga-Matadi-Banana		 Hydroelectricity, exploitation of oïl and bauxite, manufacturing industries around maritime ports of Matadi, Boma and Banana.
2 Center
Section : Ilebo-Tshikapa-Kananga-Mbuji Mayi		 Transport logistics and food industries
3 Sud
Axe : Kolwezi-Likasi-Lubumbashi-Sakania		 Heavy and manufacturing industries centered on copper, cobalt and others.
4 Est
Axe : Uvira-Bukavu-Goma-Beni-Bunia		 Manufacturing and food industries.
5 Nord-Ouest
Axe : Kisangani-Bumba-Mbandaka		 Timber industry and agribusiness

Source : Programme du Gouvernement 2012-2016, Kinshasa, mai 2012.

III. Features of Maluku SEZ

Maluku SEZ was created by the Government decree of 16 July 2012. It has the following characteristics :

  1. Area : 885 ha including 244 ha for the pilot area ;
  2. Industrial sectors concerned :
    • Agribusiness ;
    • Building materials ;
    • Packaging ;
    • Metallurgical transformation
  3. Located in the nearby of Kinshasa, a market of over 10 million inhabitants ;
  4. Good national and international transport connections ;
  5. Located closer to the Congo River, which provides access to the large internal market ;
  6. Feasibility study : available (estimated cost : around 120 million USD).

IV. Progress in the implementation of the SEZ / MALUKU

  1. The process of expropriation and compensation of 190 family plots erected within the Area ;
  2. Ongoing process of submission of applications for developers. Any investor in need may contact the temporary cell in charge of the management of MALUKU SEZ. 
    • CAZES
      • Téléphone : +243818149658
      • E-mail : cazesrdc@gmail.com
      • Galeries Présidentielles, Local 1 M7/Kinshasa/Gombe
  3. Commencement of activities of the SEZ : 2nd half of 2016

V. How can private investors access the Special Economic Zone

  • Send the expression of interest to the Support Unit of the SEZ prior to the appointment of the leaders of the SEZ Regulatory Agency.

VI. Reasons for the private to invest in the SEZ / MALUKU

  1. Grant of tax and customs incentives in full speed ;
  2. Provision in drinking water and electricity provided ;
  3. Evacuation routes of production to consumption centers assured ;
  4. No red tape, etc.