Login

Lost your password?

Sign Up

Register

Login

Login

Lost your password?

Register

Thursday, July 7, 2022
  • Home
  • Banking
  • Industry & Trade
  • Investing
  • Money Deals
  • Regional Markets
  • Tech & Biz
  • Countries
  • Opinion

Africa's
Investment
Gateway

The Exchange
  • Login
  • Register
Subscribe
This Month's Edition
Previous Editions
  • Home
  • Banking
  • Industry & Trade
  • Investing
  • Money Deals
  • Regional Markets
  • Tech & Biz
  • Countries
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
The Exchange
  • Home
  • Banking
  • Industry & Trade
  • Investing
  • Money Deals
  • Regional Markets
  • Tech & Biz
  • Countries
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
The Exchange
LOGIN
alternatetext
Trade relations between Belgium and the DRC. www.theexchange.africa

Trade relations between Belgium and the DRC. [Photo/ Africa Briefing]

Trade relations between Belgium and the DRC

With the right technology to exploit the natural gas, the Congo can increase bilateral trade with Belgium and all the EU members

by Joseph Kangethe
June 1, 2022
in Industry and Trade
0
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn
  • In 2020, the DRC imported goods of over US$333 million from Belgium, with products such as blood, vaccines, refined petroleum and packaged medicaments topping the imports
  • Including the DRC in the EAC provides Belgium with almost all the imports they source from Africa from one region, the East African region
  • The atrocities committed by King Leopold II are dragging the relationship between these two countries

The war between Russia and Ukraine is shifting the focus of European countries to Africa as an alternative market for gas and food products. Among the relationships that have registered an upward trend is a partnership between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Belgium.

The trade relationship between the two countries has been in existence for decades now, performing well economically. In 2020, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) imported goods of over US$333 million from Belgium, with products such as blood, vaccines, refined petroleum and packaged medicaments topping the imports. Over the last 20 years, imports from Belgium to the DRC have increased from US$96.6 million to US$333 million.

The DRC exported goods worth US$64.36 million to Belgium, as per the United Nations COMTRADE database. The main products exported included diamonds, cobalt, and cocoa beans. Over the last 20 years, DRC’s exports to Belgium have decreased from US$774 million to US$108 million.

Trade volume between the two countries is likely to increase with the inclusion of the DRC into the East African Community. The Congo is setting up their shipping line at the port of Mombasa, Kenya, a country that has been an excellent trading partner with Belgium.

Read: US – Nigeria Trade Relations: An Overview

Exports from Kenya to Belgium have increased at an annual rate of 4.91 per cent for the last 21 years.  Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda also enjoy good bilateral trade relations with Belgium.

Including the DRC in the EAC provides Belgium with almost all the imports they source from Africa from one region, the East African region.

Furthermore, East Africa is the most peaceful region, consequently providing the best trading conditions in the continent. The trade relationship between Belgium and the DRC will likely improve because of the EU- Africa partnership that targets to better their trading statistics.

The European Union has been looking for potential natural gas suppliers from Africa to fill in the deficiency created by the sanctions on Russia’s gas importation to the region.

According to Worldometer, the DRC Congo holds over 30 billion cubic feet of methane and natural gas. With the right technology to exploit the natural gas, the Congo can increase bilateral trade with Belgium and all the EU members.

alternatetext

The atrocities committed by King Leopold II are dragging the relationship between these two countries. www.theexchange.africa
The atrocities committed by King Leopold II are dragging the relationship between these two countries. [Photo/ The Times]
Belgium relied for about 30 per cent on Russia’s oil, an opportunity that is out for the Congo to grab.

However, the atrocities committed by King Leopold II are dragging the relationship between these two countries.

King Philippe visits the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This June, President Felix Tshisekedi will host King Phillippe of Belgium, his first visit to their former colony since he began his reign in 2013.

He will join the country to celebrate its 62 years of independence. Wholly, Belgium will join the DRC in celebrating their Independence Day by removing the statues of King Leopold II, who brutalized Congo. The demand for the removal of the statues is just the tip of the iceberg and part of a broad anti-racism struggle which the Congolese community and other African descendants have been highlighting for the past decades.

The trade relationship between these two countries has often been affected by the pain that the Belgians instilled in the Congolese people during their reign as colonizers. In 2020, King Philippe became the first monarch to express regret against the Belgian brutality and apologized to the DRC.

The Democratic Republic of Congo genocide

In a letter to President Tshisekedi, King Philippe expressed his deepest regrets for the acts of violence and cruelty and the suffering and humiliation inflicted on the Congolese people. King Leopold II is believed to have caused the death of 10 million Congolese people and used the country’s vast wealth of natural resources to enrich himself.

The King used forced labour to collect rubber in high demand at the beginning of the 20th century and killed any Congolese citizens who put up any resistance. He abducted wives and children and forced men to bring him rubber in exchange for their families. He propagated the idea of spreading Christianity in the ‘Congo free state’, which was a scapegoat for hiding his atrocities.

Read: US-Ghana Trade Relations: Symbiotic or exploitative?

The Belgian education minister, Caroline Désir, wants to make courses of study on the history of the DRC Congo and colonialism compulsory to sensitize the country to the atrocities committed by King Leopold II.

However, the modification of school curricula can take up to two years. Some Belgians have also been engaging in the illegal trade of mineral resources, affecting the relationship between these two countries.

A Belgian engages in illegal trading in the DRC

The Democratic Republic of Congo is the wealthiest country in mineral reserves. Still, the government and the local citizens fail to fully benefit from the resources due to illegal smuggling. Early this year, the United States imposed sanctions on Alan Goetz, a Belgian businessman, and a cartel linked to him over illegal gold dealings in the DRC.

In a statement, the United States Treasury Department said that the company Alan Goetz operates is responsible for the illegal smuggling of gold valued at hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

The illegal smuggling of mineral resources in the country provides revenue for rebels in the country, threatening political, social and economic stability.

Despite past atrocities, relations between the DRC and Belgium are improving, as witnessed by the Congolese people living in Belgium and Belgians living in the Congo.

Congolese population in Belgium

The Congolese population living in Belgium totals about 30,000 to 40,000. After World War II, they settled in Belgium, with most migrants going to Europe as second-degree students. In Brussels, Belgium, there is a neighbourhood called Matonge, which the Congolese people dominate. The Belgian administration makes efforts to ensure that the Congolese are treated well to heal the wounds caused by King Leopold II.

Belgium population in the Congo

There are around 5,000 Belgians living in the Congo, with many hesitant to make their homes in the DRC because most Congolese nationalists have never made peace with the Democratic Republic of Congo genocide. Most of the Belgians are in the Congo to invest in the country’s vast majority of natural resources.

Among other security situations in the country is the rampant rise of the Democratic Republic of Congo child soldiers. Rebel groups in the country recruit children as young as eight years old and teach them how to handle guns and ammunition. One movie on Netflix, “Beasts of no Nation”, depicts how children are forced into war gangs to protest against the government.

French has been the official language of the DRC since its colonial era under Belgian rule. Additionally, the DRC has taken the Franc as its national currency. Some argue that Francophone countries are still under neo-colonialism as their currency value is directly pegged to the Franc.

The DRC’s entry into the EAC

The admission of the DRC to the East African Community appears to be a good escape route for the country as it is more likely to adopt the shilling as its official currency. The idea is still under discussion, awaiting implementation, even as the EAC bloc looks at the potential of forming the East African Federation—the best-situated trading bloc in Africa.

The DRC is one of the most linguistically diverse countries globally, with over 200 languages spoken in the country. Apart from French, several other languages are spoken in the DRC, such as Kikongo, Lingala, Swahili, and Tshiluba (the four national languages).

The country has, over the years, ranked high in countries with high insecurity and poor standards of living. The country has also been poised to have the wealthiest potential in energy resources, which it has not utilized. However, people fail to notice some beautiful facts about the DRC.

The King of Belgium will join the DRC to celebrate their independence. www.theexchange.africa
The King of Belgium will join the DRC to celebrate their independence. [Photo/ John Hopkins Nursing Magazine]

Facts about the Democratic Republic of Congo

  • The DRC has over 250 ethnic groups with over 200 languages spoken throughout the country.
  • The DRC’s Virunga National Park is home to the world’s rarest gorillas, lions, and elephants. The park generates massive revenue for the government.
  • The DRC contains the most extensive gallery of natural resources globally. It is the most resource-rich country on the planet, with an abundance of gold, tantalum, tungsten, and tin, all minerals used in electronics such as cell phones and laptops.
  • The DRC hosts the United Nations’ largest peacekeeping mission globally, with over 21,000 soldiers from approximately 50 different countries.

These unique characteristics, among others, make the DRC a beautiful and among the most economically promising countries on the continent. Since joining the East African Community barely a month ago, the DRC has made progress by setting its shipping line at the Port of Mombasa.

This shipping line will help the country ease the exportation of their agricultural and mineral resources without having to experience the poor infrastructure and high levels of insecurities on the western side.

Read: Cold War? Trade relations between Zimbabwe and USA

Tags: Belgian population in the CongoBelgiumchild soldiers in DRCCongolese population in DRCDRCFacts about DRCKing Leopold 11King PhilippepremiumThe DRC genocideThe FrancTrade relations between Belgium and DRC

STATE OF ECONOMY - GET THE REPORT

ASSESSING EAST AFRICA

Loading...

Joseph Kangethe

I am a journalist who is an enthusiastic tech, business and investment news writer from across Africa. There is always something good happening in Africa but most gets lost in the stereotypes. I tell the stories that matter to the Africans for Africa. Have a tip? You can contact me at [email protected]

Related Posts

www.theexchange.africa
Business

Kenya: Economic activity contracts for third consecutive month on inflation

July 6, 2022
www.theexchange.africa
Business

Kenya: Food, oil prices force average inflation to rise to 6.3% in first half of 2022

July 5, 2022
www.theexchange.africa
Business

Bolt opens Africa head office in Kenya following $716m funding

July 4, 2022
Next Post
Salome Ngugi. She is the Product Manager for Lighters at BIC East Africa. www.theexchange.africa

Opinion: Top tips around the importance of fire preparedness and safety 

African Heads of State pose for a group photo during the opening of the 32nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and the Government of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 10, 2019. (Photo/ REUTERS)

Africa’s global role unstoppable as reality changes

invest in Tanzania, LNG Tanzania, Tanzania Oil and Gas

Is Tanzania becoming East Africa's best investment destination?

Please login to join discussion




This months edition

Features

Countries

Era of the African Passport: A mixed bag of opportunities?

by june njoroge
July 4, 2022
0

The African passport is a common passport document that is set to replace the existing nationally issued AU member states’...

Read more
Sibongile Thobakgale. She is the area sales manager for South Africa at Aggreko Africa. www.theexchange.africa
Investing

Transforming manufacturing in Africa

by Opinion
July 4, 2022
0

From cement to food and beverages to metal production and processing, manufacturing organisations are looking for sustainable energy solutions to...

Read more
Wallace Manyara. He is the Business Development Manager, Region South & East Africa, Wärtsilä Energy. www.theexchange.africa
Investing

Renewables, gas cheapest ways to meet Mozambique’s electricity demand

by Opinion
July 1, 2022
0

To meet its growing energy needs and increase electricity access across the population, Mozambique must build 1.3GW of new power...

Read more
By 2030, tech financing in Africa will hit US$90 billion. African governments have a lot to do to reduce the risk of investing in tech startups. www.theexchange.africa
Tech & Business

Challenges and opportunities across Africa’s tech ecosystems

by Njenga Hakeenah
July 4, 2022
0

In addition, governments have to make things better for businesses. Currently, tech start-ups have to pay a lot to comply...

Read more
Foreign Currency Auction System Fails to Meet Soaring Demand
Industry and Trade

Foreign currency auction fails to meet soaring demand

by Laurence Sithole
July 4, 2022
0

Despite these fundamentals, the Zimbabwe dollar has continued to slide against the United States dollar prompting the government to take...

Read more

News

Banking
Industry & Trade
Investing
Money Deals
Regional Markets
Tech & Biz
Opinion

Countries

Kenya
Tanzania
Uganda
Burundi
Rwanda
Southern Africa
Ethiopia

More

My Account
Contact us
Advertise
About us
Help Center

Subscribers Center

E-paper
Premium Stories
Education Rates
Corporate Subscriptions
Weekely Newsletter

  • My account
  • About us
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refund Policy – The Exchange
  • Sitemap

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Banking
  • Industry & Trade
  • Investing
  • Money Deals
  • Regional Markets
  • Tech & Biz
  • Countries
  • Opinion
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart

© 2021 The Exchange - Powered by MediapixManaged by Supported by Digihandler,

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In