Occupying an exceptional geostrategic position in the heart of Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the crossing point of all the road corridors between the North and South, East and West of the continent.

Thus, one could not think of unifying the different markets of the continent without passing through the DRC. It is therefore a hinge country or a transit land in the making.

It is in this capacity that it is part of several African sub-regional economic communities that allow the expansion of its market to several countries at the same time. These include:

1. CDIC (265 million consumers)
2. COMESA (416 million consumers)
3. ECCAS (120 million consumers)
4. The ICGLR (82.1 million consumers)

Thus, the free trade area to be created between COMESA, EAC and SADC will encompass some 565 million consumers