DRC Signs $600 Million Kasumbalesa Dry Port Deal to Boost Regional Logistics and Jobs
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Communications, and Rural Development Jean-Pierre Bemba presided over the signing ceremony on Monday, December 1, 2025, for the concession contract to build, operate, and transfer the new Kasumbalesa dry port.
The agreement was concluded between the Office of Multimodal Freight Management (Ogefrem) and the South African private company Yellowstone Consortium. The investment is estimated at nearly US $600 million.
“This contract aligns with the strategic vision of His Excellency, the President of the Republic, Mr. Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, to strengthen national logistics and position infrastructure as a catalyst for development,” Bemba stated. “Given its geostrategic location, the Democratic Republic of Congo is destined to become a regional transit hub for neighboring economies. The establishment of the Kasumbalesa dry port is a key step toward realizing this ambition.”
According to Bemba, the new dry port will improve transport efficiency and is expected to generate cumulative economic benefits of an estimated US $1 billion, along with US $123 million in road-safety-related gains.
The Kasumbalesa Dry Port (PSK) will feature three warehouse types, including two expandable bonded warehouses and a bonded warehouse with a quarantine zone and expandable safety stockpile.
Additional infrastructure includes parking areas for up to 2,000 trucks, a fuel depot, a fire station, and three dormitories capable of accommodating more than 1,000 employees. A land reserve along National Highway No. 1 is designated for a service station and retail facilities.
Through the Banana Corridor and the commissioning of the Kasumbalesa dry port, the DRC is expected to create at least 2,000 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect jobs, while significantly reducing logistics costs and boosting national competitiveness.
