This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 7/20/2017

Overview

The construction industry’s contribution to economic growth has been reduced significantly in recent years due to the influx of Chinese companies which, by many estimates, now manage more than 90 percent of the public and private construction projects in the DRC.  In addition, low commodity prices in 2015 and 2016 also slowed demand for construction services.  Despite this slowdown, in March 2016, Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works identified over $6 billion in shovel ready transportation and utilities related infrastructure construction and rehabilitation projects over six years.

The construction sector in the DRC is dominated by foreign firms.  Chinese firms alone account over half of all public works projects in the DRC, and a significant portion of private construction projects; European construction firms also work extensively in the DRC.
 

Leading Sub-Sectors

  • Health care infrastructure
  • Road infrastructure
  • Electrical generation and transmission infrastructure
  • Water and sewage infrastructure
  • Lodging
  • Educational infrastructure


Opportunities

There are numerous infrastructure construction opportunities for American firms with capital and an appetite for risk.  These infrastructure projects are frequently structured as public-private partnerships; American and European firms face stiff competition from their Chinese counterparts, as they often bring their own financing.  Projects are listed on the website of the ARMP and Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works webpages.
 

Web Resources

Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works
DRC Chamber of Commerce
Congo Business
Global Trade Atlas
National Agency for Investment Promotion (ANAPI)
Regulatory Authority for Public Procurement (ARMP)
Single-Window for Business Creation

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