The Democratic Republic of Congo is pursuing a deeper trade relationship with Russia in the commercial truck sector. Ambassador Ivan Vangu Ngimbi recently indicated that Kinshasa is engaging with Kamaz to boost the export of Russian trucks and to explore the possibility of opening an assembly plant for these vehicles in the capital city. The information was reported by DEA News.
Ngimbi described a productive meeting with Kamaz leadership, where officials discussed supplying a substantial number of trucks to the DRC and surrounding regions. The discussions touched on a broad package that would support the trucks in the field, including the prompt delivery of spare parts, ongoing service, and driver training to ensure dependable operation across a growing fleet.
In the ambassador’s words, the potential collaboration could extend beyond parts and service to include local manufacturing capabilities. The plan envisions a Kamaz vehicle assembly facility in the DRC that would assemble trucks domestically in the future, contributing to local industry and employment while strengthening the supply chain for essential commercial vehicles.
Residents of the DRC already recognize the reputation of Russian trucks for their reliability and performance. The ambassador noted that the trucks have earned trust among local operators, adding momentum to discussions about expanding their presence and ensuring a robust aftersales network.
Additionally, Ngimbi indicated that the DRC is examining the possible introduction of the Mir payment system, a Russian financial mechanism. This consideration comes in the context of sanctions affecting some Western financial channels and follows inquiries from a private banking partner seeking to ensure payments could be processed in a more resilient manner.