Staff Writer
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a US$159.50 million loan to the Democratic Republic of Congo to improve access to the Ngandajika Agro-Industrial Park and boost connectivity in the country’s central region.
The total project cost is US$177.16 million, with the Congolese government contributing the balance.
The project to strengthen connectivity at the Ngandajika Agro-Industrial Park aims to link the park more effectively to major economic corridors in central DRC.
The work will include upgrades to the Nkuadi–Ngandajika–PAIN and Lukalaba–Ngandajika roads, as well as improvements to connecting sections between National Roads 1 and 2.
The project also covers the extension of the Mbuji-Mayi airport runway to support agro-industrial air freight.
“This project is a major milestone for Central Africa’s economic integration and for advancing agricultural industrialisation in the DRC,” said Léandre Bassolé, the bank’s director general for Central Africa.
“By improving access to the Ngandajika agro-industrial park, we are doing more than upgrading a road. 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.”
The project will benefit farmers, transporters and agro-industrial operators in Lomami province, the surrounding park area and Kasaï Oriental by lowering logistics costs and improving access to markets. Women and young people, who play a major role in local agricultural and commercial activities, will gain new economic opportunities through better transport links.
The initiative forms part of the bank group’s agricultural transformation programme and complements the support programme for the development of the Ngandajika Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone.
It also supports the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area by improving trade and connectivity.
“This project will remove one of the main constraints limiting the competitiveness of the Ngandajika agro-industrial park: the lack of reliable transport infrastructure for supplying inputs and moving production,” said Johnny Makwela, the project task manager.
“The new road links and improved air access will significantly reduce logistics costs and accelerate the integration of producers into agro-industrial value chains.”
The project strengthens agricultural value chains, supports food security and improves the competitiveness of local production. It aligns with the bank’s 2023–2028 country strategy paper for the DRC.
