Agency Details
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Delmas DRC (CMA-CGM Group)
4200 Avenue General Bobozo Adruma
Quartier Kingabwa
Gombe BP 8834
Kinshasa
Democratic Republic of Congo
Tel: (+243) 898960476 / (+243) 898952444
Fax: (+243) 8841533
E-Mail: ksh.amuaka@african-agency.com or ksh.jmavambu@african-agency.com

Bolloré Africa Logistics / SDV Agetraf
Agetraf S.Z.A.R.L
6 Avenue de la Poste,
Matadi
Democratic Republic of Congo
Tel: (+243) 998510299
Fax: (+243) 8841533
E-Mail: congo.shipping.ops-mat@ic.cd

For Boma - Agetraf
10 bis avenue Makulu
Commune de Nzadi/Boma
Democratic Republic of Congo
Tel: (+243) 898960476
Fax: (+243) 998271463
E-Mail: ksh.jmavambu@african-agency.com

Click here for a list of all OT Africa Line agency offices

The main freight forwarding and customs clearance company in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Agetraf provides customers with an extensive infrastructure (office buildings, warehouses, container yards and handling equipment). Saga has been part of the Bollore group since 1990. Saga's activites include, seafreight (import/export), customs clearance, airfreight, handling: forklifts, cranes, superstackers, warehousing, trucking and a shipping line agent.

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OT Africa Line Service Brochure
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For comprehensive details highlighting our service from DRC please see our latest service brochure.

Matadi Port Information
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Matadi Port Infrastructure

Matadi is situated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on the left bank of the River Congo halfway between the atlantic and Kinshasa. Matadi is a major town and is home to approx. 250,000 people and is the major gateway to the River Congo.

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Banana Port Information
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Banana port is situated in Banana Creek, an inlet about 1km wide on the north bank of the Congo River's mouth, separated from the ocean by a spit of land 3km long and 100 to 400m wide. The port is located on the creek side of the spit, which shelters it from the ocean. It is about 8km south-east of Muanda and connected by a paved road running along the coast.

The port of Banana consists of one wharf of 75m and depth 5.18m, with two small cranes for cargo handling, and a few small jetties. The port has an oil terminal 4km further upriver, to which tankers discharge while at anchor in the creek

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Transport News
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Matadi Strike Over - 30/12/09
Situation is back to normal but rain is hampering container evacuation from the port.

Matadi Port - Customs Strike - 15/12/09
On-going strike by L'Office des Douanes et Accises / Customs & Excise [OFIDA] with no evacuation of containers. Port is above capacity and heavily congested. No trucks are entering or leaving terminal since the beginning of last week. Delays expected.

New ONATRA MD Named - 02/11/09
As proposed by Progosa, Georges Raymond has been named as the new managing director of the National Office of Transport [ONATRA www.onatra.info] to be based in Kinshasa. Raymond replaces Claude Pécune Ponson. Raymond was formerly Progosa’s regional director for the Sahel countries [Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger], representing SE2M and SE3M in Togo as well as promoting dry ports in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso [Burkina], Kayes and Cikasso [Mali], Niamey and Dosso [ Niger].

The contract signed between DRC and Progosa provides that within a 2-year period the Franco-Spanish firm would improve the management of ONATRA by reorganising staff and updating information systems. Meanwhile Progosa has subcontracted some elements to the French firm Systra a subsidiary of SCNF for the improvement of rail traffic. [Digital Congo 02/11/09]

DRC – Matadi/Boma – Strike By ONATRA - Update - 04/08/09
Please note the ONATRA strike has ended. Work resumed last night.

DRC – Matadi/Boma – Strike By ONATRA - 20/07/09
As of this morning The Office National des Transports [ONATRA] staff are on strike in both Matadi and Boma ports. Staff are demanding payment for salary arrears. Operations at Terminal Container de Matadi [TCM] and ONATRA offices are at a standstill. However L'Office des Douanes et Accises / Customs & Excise [OFIDA] and Office Congolais de Contrôle / Office for Standards [OCC] are working normally. Website: www.onatra.info

NB - OT Africa Line has ONATRA as its terminal operator in both Matadi & Boma.

Kinshasa and Brazzaville To Be Linked By Bridge - 13/07/2009
Kinshasa and Brazzaville, the capital cities of the DRC and the Republic of Congo respectively, are to be linked by a bridge within 5-years. The decision was made during a recent meeting of ministers of the Economic Community of the Central African States (CEEAC). A MOU for the construction has been signed by the DRC minister of Planning, Olivier Kamitatu and his Congo Brazzaville’s counterpart, Justin Balemego, the minister in charge of Regional Integration and Nepad. A US$ 7.7 million feasibility study is underway. Under the terms of the agreement, the road-and-rail bridge will be 95% financed by the African Development Bank, with the remaining 5% coming from the two countries. The bridge, to include both a road and a railway, will promote traffic of goods between the cities with work is expected to start in Kinsuka suburb in Kinshasa.

The project will not only increase the goods traffic between the port of Pointe Noire in Congo Brazzaville and the city of Kinshasa, but reportedly will also significantly shorten the distance between Kinshasa and the Atlantic ocean by about 200km. The same project includes the construction of a railroad between Kinshasa and the DRC city of Ilebo, Western Kasai Province [1,015km]. By doing so, the city of Kinshasa will be linked by railway to Lubumbashi (2,300km), the capital city of the mineral-rich province of Katanga, South Eastern DRC. The road/rail bridge will complete a missing road link of the Trans-Africa Highway 3 from Tripoli-Windhoek-Cape Town, and a rail link for the Point Noirs – South-Eastern Africa railway network.

Note: NB: Bolloré Africa Logistics and its local partners Socotrans, Samariti and Translo have recently began construction work on Congo Terminal, the new container terminal being developed at Pointe-Noire. Last month it was also announced that APM Terminals would be joining the concession team.

Real Work Begins For Africa's Largest Trade Bloc COMESA - 08/06/09
COMESA has concluded its 13th summit hoping for greater integration with the launch of the COMESA customs union. The COMESA customs union aims to lift tariffs among member states while harmonizing barriers with third parties through the Common External Tariff. The adoption of the legal instruments for the customs union, the customs regulations governing the union and the customs management regulations, means that the real work now begins. COMESA also aims to have a monetary union by 2015 and a COMESA Community by 2025. [Xinhua 08/06/09]

Boma Cargo Scrutinized - 01/04/09
An instruction has been issued by the government in DRC that with immediate effect only containers destined for delivery within the vicinity of Boma will be allowed to be discharged at the port. We expect that authorities will scrutinise manifests to check that the cargo is consigned to receivers in the local area of Boma. All other containers will be refused and discharged in Matadi. [Local Agent 01/04/09]

Stevedore Strike Ends - 20/04/09
A strike by local stevedores at Matadi port has now ended on 16/04/09. The strike had been running for over a week having commenced on 08/04/09. [SAGA 20/04/09]

New Port For Congo - 15/11/08
Belgian port developer Rent A Port is undertaking a feasibility study into the construction of a deepwater port in the Bas Congo Province of DRC, near the mouth of the River Congo. Point Noire in neighbouring Congo- Brazzaville is currently the main container port in the region and Brazzaville is considering the development of a second container terminal on its coastline. However, the government of DRC hopes to construct its own modern port to act as a transhipment hub and underline its importance as by far the largest and most populous country in the region. [WCN 15/11/08]

Tin Exports To Be Banned - 06/11/08
Raw tin exports from eastern DRC provinces will be banned from January 2009 in favour of refined tin ore. The government wants Congo to be an exporter of value-added metals as opposed to raw materials. It is expected that the export ban will also cover tungsten ore wolframite and columbite-tantalite. [SAGA 06/11/08]

Comesa Moves to Legalise Country's Invisible Foreign Trade - November 2008
The huge proportion of the trade between the DRC and the rest of the world that goes unrecorded will soon see the light of day as efforts to regularise it intensify. The resources-rich DRC not only supplies its neighbours with light-value products like quality timber and minerals, it is also a big market for their fish, foodstuffs and manufactured goods. But less than 30% of the transactions across its borders is legal. Efforts by the Common market for Eastern and Southern Africa [COMESA], assisted by the British Department for International Development and American USAid are now in high gear to bring the other 70% plus above board so that the traders currently classified as smugglers can operate gainfully, while the government also earns more revenue from the provision of better services to the people. The Comesa initiative, known as Trading for Peace, specifically aims at achieving security and poverty reduction through trade in natural resources.

It is also trying to create the Simplified Trade Regime [STR] that should make it possible to transact crossborder trade using simple documents to replace the current practice where a myriad taxes are collected using many separate documents, especially on the DRC side of the border.

DRC Major Economic Hubs To Be Connected - 18/09/08
China is expected to build 4,000km of road connecting DRC’s major economic hubs and improve 250km of road in Kinshasa alone at a cost of US$9 million. Such infrastructural development is part of a multi-billion dollar deal signed between the two countries which allows China to mine in the mineral rich DRC for the next 22 years. Opposition members have criticised the deal, arguing that it favours the Chinese. But government argues that the state enterprise Gecca mines will get 38% of all dividends and adding also the tax of which 67% of revenue from the contract will stay in the Congo. [SABC 18/09/08]

Strike Ends: Matadi, DRC - 26/08/08
Workers at DRC's port authority have ended their strike over pay, allowing imports and exports to resume. Employees of the state-owned Office National des Transports on 22/08/08 stopped work when their salaries weren't adjusted to reflect the new minimum wage. According to the Solidarite labor union the authority has now agreed to add the difference to next month's pay check.

Strike Matadi, DRC - 22/08/08
Please be advised that since this morning a strike is taking place at Matadi port [DRC]. There is no official information about the cause or any idea of the duration of this strike. We will keep you updated as events unfold.

Political landscape remains fragile - 29/07/08
The ongoing peace process offers hope and confidence on the reconstruction and development currently underway. However, peace and stability alone might not guarantee success and prosperity due to the major challenges that lie ahead. Government’s commitment to physical and social infrastructure development, prudent macroeconomic policies and strengthening of institutional framework and administrative capability, among others, should help to anchor the reconstruction path the country has adopted. Click here to read on...

DRC Plans US9 Billion Rail Project With China - 17/06/08
As two European companies start work on short-term contracts to rescue the existing railway networks in the DRC, an ambitious plan to build more than 3,000 km of new railway with further spending on roads, has been outlined by Infrastructure Minister Pierre Lumbi. The plans form part of a US$9bn agreement between DRC and China, which will give the Chinese access to more than 10 million tonnes of copper and 600 000 tonnes of cobalt in mineral-rich Katanga province over 30 years. The idea is to form a joint venture owned 32% by DRC's state-owned mining company Gecamines and 68% by Chinese firms including China Railway Engineering Corp and Sinohydro. The Chinese would build the transport corridors needed to move the minerals to the Atlantic coast and other routes connecting the north and south of the country. [Railway Gazette 17/06/08]

DRC Gets $110m To Repair Roads - 10/07/08
The World Bank and Britain have given DRC US$110 million to repair roads. The aid will be spread over a 5-year period and will be used to restore 1,800km of roads in three provinces: South Kivu, Katanga and Orientale. The World Bank will provide US$50 million with Britain contributing the remaining US$60 million. The funds will cover less than 10% of roads considered in need of urgent repairs. [AFP 10/07/08]

Northern Corridor Members Urged To Develop Infrastructure - 10/03/08
A workshop organised by the Northern Corridor Transit Transport Coordination Authority [NCTTCA] seeks to achieve consensus amongst stakeholders to implement and participate in regional programmes aimed at improving the smooth flow of traffic along the Northern Corridor. Aimed to promote regional economic development members are to focus on establishing the requisite infrastructure. Member countries of the NCTTA include DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Sudan. [TM 10/03/08]

DRC - Inspection Procedure For Import Cargo - 10/01/08
Since 2007, all import cargo to DRC has undergone inspection by BIVAC / Bureau VERITAS prior to shipment. From 01/01/08, OFIDA (Office des Douanes et Accises) and OCC (Office Congolais de Contrôle) will no longer accept exemptions. Any cargo without a certificate of inspection will not be accepted for discharge by the local authorities and returned to the port of origin. Please note that cargoes destined for Brazzaville [Congo] via DRC are not concerned. Also all humanitarian cargoes to DRC are also exempt from inspection. For the official notice from OFIDA please click here

Central Corridor Roads Ready By 2010 - 03/12/07
The 'Central Corridor', the road network linking DRC to Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda will be upgraded and completed by 2010. Mr. Dieter Schelling, the World Bank's task team leader said, "The Central Transport Corridor is critical in promoting regional integration, trade and investment because it opens up areas of main economic activities, such as mining, tourism, agriculture and manufacturing, in addition to serving four landlocked neighbouring countries." [WB 03/12/07]

Fragile Economy - 04/12/07
The DRC remains one of the poorest nations in the world. Its inability to capitalise and fully exploit the abundant mineral resources with which it is endowed has been the misfortune that the new government is determined to correct. After many years of conflict and political instability, the country is beginning to show significant progress both on the political and economic front. Following the successful general election in 2006, the new government formed in February 2007 has committed itself to the reconstruction of this mineral-rich African state. The government has adopted prudent macroeconomic policies that are fostering more fiscal and monetary discipline. Overall, government needs to exercise strong expenditure controls while boosting its revenue collection mechanisms. There is no doubt, however, that infrastructural investment is heavily dependent on large international donor support, which will pose more challenges to the conduct of monetary policy. Also, we expect the government’s fiscal deficit to increase in the medium term as investment spending increases. The conflicts in the Eastern DRC still poses major threat to the progress already made.

Irrespective of these challenges, there is a sense of a relatively stable administration that is committed to exercising its democratic mandate. Investors are not only attracted by the significant progress made on the political and security fronts but, also the resultant business-friendly environment. The DRC remains a fragile economy that is heavily reliant on international financial support for its reconstruction. However, growth prospects look positive in the medium term. [Standard Bank 04/12/07]

New Forklifts for Matadi Port - 26/11/07
Onatra port has received 36 forklifts out of which 20 have been allocated to operations of breakbulk cargo in Matadi port and 5 forklifts will be transferred to Boma port. [SAGA 26/11/07]

DRC Import Cargo: Namibia To Invest In Walvis Bay Port, Rail Line - 17/10/07
Namibia expects to borrow nearly $200 million from international lenders to expand its Walvis Bay port and plans to build a major railroad from the facility to boost trade with neighbouring countries, officials have said. The Namibian Port Authority (Namport) will spend $189 million to expand the port to handle more imports mainly destined for Zambia and DRC. [Reuters 17/10/07]

IMF Warns Of Impact Of China’s Loan To DRC - 05/10/07
The International Monetary Fund [IMF] has warned of the macro-economic risk of the DRC proposed US$5 billion loan from China. Announced last month, the money is to be used for the modernisation of the DRC’s infrastructure and development of its mining industry.In terms of the agreement, China will be repaid in mining concessions. When fully disbursed, the loan will be one of the biggest Chinese financial commitments on the African continent. But the IMF, which said it had been caught off guard by the announcement, said on that the international community was concerned about the DRC taking on new public debt since it went against debt relief efforts. [The Times 05/10/07]

DRC Axes Transport Minister - 01/10/07
The DRC has suspended its transport minister after a plane crash in the capital. The crash underscores the dangers of flying in the DRC, which has experienced more fatal air crashes than any other African country since 1945, according to the Aviation Safety Network. [SAPA]

China Invests In DRC Transport Infrastructure - 17/09/07
China has signed a deal to loan US$5bn to the DRC to develop infrastructure and mining partnerships. US$3 billion will build 3,200km of railway between Sakania in the south and Matadi in the west, as well as a 3,200km road linking Kisangani in the northeast and Kasumbalesa in the south. A motorway will also be built between Lubumbashi, capital of the southern Katanga province, and Kasumbalesa, a major customs point on the border with Zambia. The projects are expected to be completed within 36 months according to the DRC Infrastructure Minister Pierre Lumbi. [AFP 17/09/07]

DRC Imposes Mineral-Export Tax - 09/08/07
The DRC is to tax mineral exports at a rate of more than 10% according to local government officials. The country which has a 10th of the world’s copper reserves, is trying to rebuild its economy after two civil wars between 1996 and 2003 left 4 million people dead. It hopes to raise its budget by 25% to US$3 billion next year with the help of increased revenue from mineral production. [Bloomberg 09/08/07]

DRC To Join OHADA - 01/08/07
DRC is to shortly adhere to the Organisation pour l'Harmonisation du Droit des Affaires en Afrique / Organization for the Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa [OHADA] [www.ohada.com]. Created in 1993 OHADA is a legal tool thought out and designed by and for Africa to serve the purpose of regional integration and economic growth on the Continent.

Q&A: Antwerp & Matadi Port – Sister Partnership - 01/08/07
Since November 2003 a collaboration agreement has been in force between the Port Authority of Antwerp [APA] and the ‘Office National des Transports’ [Onatra] in the DRC. Under the terms of this agreement the Port Authority undertook to help the Congolese government with the repair and reorganisation of its ports. This month will see the latest delegation from the APA paying a visit with their counterparts in Matadi. Click here to read on...

Matadi Port Rehabilitation Works - 23/04/07
The vice-governor of Bas-Congo province has held talks with Chinese investors willing to finance the restoration works of four quays at Matadi port at an estimated cost of US$51 million. [OTAL local agent 23/04/07]

DRC Lifts Ban On Export Of Copper Concentrates - 12/04/07
The DRC has lifted a ban on the export of raw materials into Zambia following high-level talks between the two countries. The DRC government has since opened its three border posts with Zambia which were temporarily closed to traffic in order to stop the export of copper concentrates. At the end of March DRC had decided to restrict the movement of copper concentrates between the countries. According to the decision, export of unprocessed minerals [minerals scraps, malachite, etc] had been forbidden, except with conditional authority from the Ministry of Mines. Zambia President Levy Mwanawasa intervened after more than 400 trucks carrying copper concentrates for various destinations were marooned at the frontier. [Xinhua 12/04/07]

DRC To Get Grant For Roads - 03/04/07
The DRC is set to get $180-million grant from the World Bank to help fund roads and other projects. [Sapa 03/04/07]

DRC Government Implements Imports Verification Program [PVI] - 01/04/07
Bureau Veritas/BIVAC has been mandated by the Government of DRC to implement the Imports Verification Programme [PVI - Programme de Vérification des Importations. Please see March 2007 trasnport Report for more details.

SADC Trade Mission In DRC - 01/04/07
The Association of SADC Chambers of Commerce and Industry [ASCCI] will attend a trade and investment conference in DRC. The SADC trade mission team will look into issues including economic reconstruction as well as business opportunities available for the region. The mission is jointly hosted by the ASCCI and Fèdèration des Entreprises du Congo [FEC], set for 22-25 April 2007 with 200 business leaders and captains of industry expected to participate.

The primary objective of the forum is to promote and facilitate trade and investment opportunities between the DRC and complement NEPAD and African Union programmes. The trade mission will include business-to-business matchmaking meetings in the fields of agriculture, telecommunications, mining, manufacturing, financial services, tourism/conservation, roads/rail construction, construction and building, petroleum/natural gasses, transport, services, water resources, healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Please view http://www.ascci.org.za/events.html for more information.

New Road Linking DRC, Uganda And Rwanda - 08/03/07
The Ugandan parliament has approved a supplementary US$37m loan from the African Development Bank for a road project linking Rwanda, Uganda and DRC. The project comprises a two-lane asphalt road running from Kabale and Kisoro in Uganda to Cyanika in Rwanda and Bunagana in DRC. Road construction is expected to start in May and last for 36 months. The roads has been identified under the Preferential Trade Area as a feasible and viable road in the region, it will also pass through a mineral rich area with huge deposits of iron ore in Muko [Uganda]. [Rwanda Info exchange 08/03/07]

New DRC Government Announced - 06/02/07
The new DRC government was announced on 05/02/07, thus ending weeks of speculation as to its composition. The 60 member government, headed by veteran politician Antoine Gizenga as Prime Minister, was announced two months after the inauguration of Joseph Kabila as President of the DRC on 06/12/06. The Alliance for the Presidential Majority [AMP] - the political coalition of President Kabila - has control of all the ministerial posts in relation to security and reconstruction. The new government now faces the huge task of rebuilding the Congo after a decade of conflict, war and a difficult political transition period which began in 2003. [MONUC 06/02/07]

Matadi - Progressive Port Revival - 01/02/07
The Port of Matadi is starting to take off, after losing up to 40% of its berthing capacity. New initiatives begin to come forward that are geared towards the development of traffics.

Repair works on the Quai de Venise, with the support of the port of Antwerp, have given excellent results. Located outside Quays 1 to 10, it will be fully operational from next February. This quay will be designed mostly for fresh products. Quays 1-4 are currently being renovated and will not be operational before early 2008. For the moment, conventional vessels are hosted at quays 6 to 10.

Uncertainties which existed during the pre and post electoral period have proved unfounded. A climate of stability has instead prevailed, benefiting the whole port environment. ONATRA has ordered new equipments consisting of straddle carriers, large and small forklifts as well as container-ship chassis.

Inspection Procedure For Import Cargo - 01/01/07
Following a ministerial decree [no 106] all cargo entering DRC from 01/01/07 [loading date] must be inspected by Bureau Veritas prior to departure. For further information on these regulations please view OTAL’s website [French only]

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Waiver Information
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Type: BSC (FERI - Fiche Electronique des Renseignements a l'Importation) via Internet

General Agent: Office de Gestion de Fret Maritime de la République Démocratique du Congo (OGEFREM) Website: www.ogefrem.net

Representative Agents:
Please view: http://85.18.73.209/ldb/agentlist.jsp for a list of global agents who can supply the FERI.
Documentation requirements: Please view document.

Contacts and Links
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Matadi Port
Office National des Transports [Onatra]
Port de Matad i
BP242
Tel: (+243) 232530
Operates ports and also the railways under agreement with Congo Railroad Company (CNC) or the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer du Congo (SNCC).

Banana Port Authority
Office National des Transports
Bandundo
Kinshasa
Congo (Democratic Republic)
Tel: (+243) 1 522 4761
Fax: (+243) 1 522 2892
Telex: 21017

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