Sharjah 24 – WAM: The United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Congo-Brazzaville have concluded the terms of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a deal that will facilitate greater trade and investment flows as the two nations pursue deeper economic ties.

The conclusion of negotiations was confirmed by the signing of a joint statement by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and Jean-Baptiste Ondaye, Minister of Economy and Finance for the Republic of Congo-Brazzaville.

Once ratified and implemented, the UAE-Congo-Brazzaville CEPA will reduce or remove tariffs, eliminate unnecessary barriers to trade, improve market access, enhance customs procedures, and create platforms for investment and private sector collaboration in strategic sectors.

The deal builds on growing bilateral cooperation between the two sides, which in H1 2023 saw non-oil trade increase 134 percent over H1 2022 to reach $US2.1 billion. The deal also follows the signing of three strategic agreements between the nations in early 2023 including a double taxation avoidance agreement, an investment promotion and protection agreement, and an air transport agreement.

On the signing, Al Zeyoudi said, “The conclusion of negotiations towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Congo-Brazzaville marks an important progression in our efforts to strengthen economic ties not only with the African continent but a strategic partner with which we have seen non-oil trade more than double in the first half of 2023.

For Congo-Brazzaville, Jean-Baptiste Ondaye said, “I have no doubt that the strategic partnership agreement with the United Arab Emirates that we have just concluded today will greatly contribute to the financing of structuring projects in Congo.”