KINSHASA, DRC – The Democratic Republic of Congo has taken a significant step toward developing the Kinshasa Kia Mona Logistics Hub, signing a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Belgium’s Port of Antwerp-Bruges International (PoABI) to support the technical planning and design of the project.
The agreement, announced by the Strategic Committee for the Supervision of the Kinshasa City Expansion Project (CSSPEVK) on July 2, 2026, marks the beginning of the project’s technical preparation phase. The logistics hub will be developed in Maluku Municipality as part of the government’s ambitious Kinshasa city expansion programme.
The MoU was signed by Thierry Katembwe Mbala, Chief Coordinator of the Kinshasa City Expansion Project, and Stefan Cassimon, Director of Port of Antwerp-Bruges International. Also signing the agreement was Luc De Clerck, Chief Executive Officer of Belgian infrastructure company Pampilie, although the company’s specific responsibilities within the project have not yet been disclosed.
Technical Studies to Shape Development
Under the agreement, Port of Antwerp-Bruges International will lead the initial planning process by preparing a comprehensive roadmap and carrying out feasibility studies that will determine the project’s technical and commercial viability.
The studies will examine key aspects of the proposed logistics hub, including governance structures, transport infrastructure, environmental sustainability, digital systems, workforce development and operational requirements for the future port and logistics platform.
Officials emphasized that the agreement does not authorize immediate construction. Instead, it establishes the framework needed to evaluate the project’s feasibility, institutional arrangements and infrastructure requirements before development begins.
According to Thierry Katembwe Mbala, the signing follows nearly two years of consultations and technical discussions. He described the agreement as both the culmination of extensive planning and the official launch of the implementation phase for the Kinshasa Kia Mona development programme.
Strategic Multimodal Logistics Hub
The logistics hub will occupy approximately 1,000 hectares within the broader 43,000-hectare Kinshasa Kia Mona urban development project.
Once completed, the facility is expected to serve as a modern multimodal logistics centre supporting the new city, the planned industrial zone and freight movement across Kinshasa and the wider Democratic Republic of Congo.
The project will also integrate transport links with the Congo River, creating an efficient logistics gateway capable of supporting trade, industrial development, construction supply chains and regional cargo movement.
International Expertise
Port of Antwerp-Bruges International is the global consulting and development arm of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, one of Europe’s largest ports. The organisation provides specialist expertise in port planning, governance, logistics development, investment advisory, sustainability, training and operational management across international markets.
According to the CSSPEVK, PoABI will assist in preparing a comprehensive master plan for the logistics hub while helping design a modern transport system that integrates road, river and future freight infrastructure.
The partnership represents an important milestone in the DRC’s efforts to modernise its logistics infrastructure and strengthen regional trade connectivity, positioning Kinshasa Kia Mona as a future economic and industrial growth centre.
