• Maluku SEZ to receive river dock to boost logistics
• Saphir Ceramics funds dock to improve exports via river
• Facility supports growing industrial activity and regional trade

The Maluku Special Economic Zone (SEZ), located about 70 kilometers northeast of Kinshasa, is set to receive a river dock aimed at improving freight logistics, the Special Economic Zones Agency (AZES) said in a statement on Monday, March 16.

The infrastructure, inaugurated on Friday, March 13, was financed by Saphir Ceramics, a tile and earthenware producer. It is expected to ease the transport of its products to Congo-Brazzaville and to other provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo accessible by river. Company officials said the dock will also make exports more efficient for businesses operating within the Maluku SEZ.

Several companies already operate in the industrial zone, including Varun Beverages RDC (beverages), Sopaco (agricultural processing), K Timber (wood processing), Eben Ezer International (industrial manufacturing, including paper), and Hema Beverage and Refriango (food and beverages).

In terms of exports, Saphir Ceramics has emerged as a trailblazer. In March 2025, the Chinese-owned company shipped over 300,000 square meters of tiles to Congo-Brazzaville. It is the country’s first factory of its kind, with an estimated production capacity of 70,000 square meters per day.

Ronsard Luabeya, with Bankable