• DRC met Alibaba, Isoftstone to discuss adapting China’s e-commerce model

• Joint working group formed to draft national e-commerce strategy for youth

• Alibaba eyes DRC as potential hub for African digital market expansion

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of Digital Economy, Augustin Kibassa Maliba, met with executives from Chinese technology companies Alibaba Group and Isoftstone Corporation. The meeting took place during the China-Africa Economic, Trade, and Cultural Cooperation Forum held in Jinhua, China, on November 7, 2025.

According to the Ministry of Digital Economy, the discussions focused on China’s e-commerce model and how it could be adapted to the Congolese context. The talks covered key issues such as regulation, technology, and the development of a robust digital ecosystem.

At the end of the meetings, the parties agreed to set up a joint working group to explore the matter further and draw up concrete proposals for developing e-commerce in the DRC.

The ministry said that technical meetings will take place in the coming days to finalize a strategic report for Minister Kibassa. The report will form the basis for a national e-commerce strategy aimed at creating a simple, accessible model, particularly for young Congolese entrepreneurs.

Alibaba Group, founded by Jack Ma in 1999, reaffirmed its interest in the African market, identifying the DRC as a potential hub for its continental expansion. The Chinese company operates platforms such as Alibaba.com, Taobao, Tmall, AliExpress, and Alipay, forming an integrated ecosystem that connects merchants, consumers, and service providers across online retail, cloud computing, digital finance, logistics, and entertainment.

Isoftstone Group, established in 2001, specializes in information technology and digital transformation. It provides artificial intelligence, cloud computing, big data, and smart city solutions for governments and enterprises in sectors including telecommunications, energy, transport, finance, and healthcare.

Ronsard Luabeya, Bankable