Cepa aims to double UAE trade with Republic of the Congo

The signing of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (Cepa) between the UAE and the Republic of the Congo is projected to more than double non-oil trade between the two nations.

Non-oil trade will grow to $7.2 billion by 2032 from $3.1 billion in 2024, the UAE state-run Wam news agency reported.

The Cepa will eliminate or lower customs duties, remove non-tariff trade barriers, increase market access for exports and establish new avenues for investment.

Duties will be eliminated over five years on 99.5 percent of UAE exports and 98 percent on exports from Congo.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of Congo, were present at the Cepa signing ceremony in Abu Dhabi.

In 2023, the countries signed three other agreements covering double taxation avoidance, investment protection and air transport.

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The UAE’s non-oil trade in goods reached an all-time high of $817 billion last year, rising 15 percent year on year. Cepas are the key to the UAE’s goal to reach $1 trillion in non-oil trade by 2031.

​As of April 2025, the UAE has signed a total of 26 Cepas, which include countries such as India, Indonesia, Australia, South Korea, Malaysia, Kenya and Cambodia. ​