Africa Update 2020 – Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Positive Signs of Stability at the Registry

The turnover in appointments of Ministers of Trade, who oversee the Registry functions, has always had a negative impact on the processing of applications filed at the Registry of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This is as a result of the requirement that the registration certificates must be signed off by the Minister.

Recently, the Ministry’s office has seen increasing levels of stability, resulting in improved periods of application processing and the signing off and issuing of certificates.

This is encouraging for users bearing in mind that DRC is one of the African jurisdictions without complicated processing procedures, and it still provides for patent of importation, which enables foreign granted patents to be simply registered in the DRC.

KEY OPPORTUNITIES & CONCERNS

Opportunities

• The end of the Kabila regime with the election of opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi gives hope for a less corrupt administration dedicated to national unity and growth
• The country is rich in mineral resources that may soon be more legitimately excavated in a less corrupt environment
• The country’s large population ensure a growing consumer demographic, and with mobile phone technology also growing retail transactions by phone are expected to reach US$ 1 billion in 2025

Concerns

• Significant parts of the country are destroyed or undeveloped due to decades of war fare and political strife
• Militant groups have been fighting in the country and looting its resources for so long their complete eradication will be a task
• A population impoverished by decades of corrupt government and armed warfare requires significant social interventions