Kinshasa April 11th, 2025 (CPA) – The company DP World, which is carrying out the construction work on the Deepwater port of Banana in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has undertaken to deliver the work as early as 2026, in an exchange on Thursday between its Chief Executive Officer and the Congolese Prime Minister, according to a press release from the Office of the Prime Minister. ‘It was important for me to be able to meet the top management of DP World, to discuss with them about the evolution of things and to show that we, at the level of DRC, are today in a position to be able to fully support this project.
And they have promised me that if all goes well, in the established order, we will be able to have the first ships as early as next year, 2026. And so we are going to work together to ensure that this can be done properly’, has declared Judith Suminwa, Prime Minister of DRC.
The Head of Government has made it clear that what was important was to show that the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the President of the Republic through the Government, really want to see the Banana Deepwater port project come to fruition.
DP World, which has signed an agreement with the Congolese government in December 2021, is in the process of building an initial 700-metre quay at the port of Banana, capable of accommodating the largest ships in operation. The port, which will be equipped with the latest technology, will have a handling capacity of 450,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year. ‘We are delighted to meet the Prime Minister.
We’ve been looking forward to this visit. It really is a great opportunity to sit down with the Prime Minister and discuss the progress of the port. I am really pleased that the Prime Minister has given us 100% support in ensuring that this project is completed on time and to the highest quality,’ has affirmed Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chief Executive Officer of DP World.
A modern port to boost DRC’s international trade
Judith Suminwa following some explanations about the project
The Banana Deepwater port project embodies the President Felix Tshisekedi’s vision of equipping DRC with modern logistics infrastructure. This development is crucial to strengthening the country’s export capacity and providing affordable access to international markets. This progress shows that the Head of Government’s trips are not ‘pleasure trips’, but strategic missions for the country’s future. The Prime Minister’s trip to Dubai illustrates her Government’s commitment to drive forward this important project for the future and the economy of the country.