The mineral-rich nation became the EAC’s seventh member after heads of state agreed to its request to join the $193.7 billion group. The bloc’s common market, which groups 177 million people, provides for free movement of goods, people, labor, services and capital among partner states Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest country by landmass, Congo will provide a corridor for East African nations along the Indian Ocean coastline to connect with the Atlantic Ocean, opening a window to increased intra-African trade. The world’s largest source of cobalt and Africa’s biggest miner of copper, Congo has a population of about 90 million people and a GDP of $54.8 billion.
Upside risks to growth may be driven by higher-than-projected mining activity or higher commodity prices that would strengthen fiscal and external positions, according to the lender.