Congo, republic of the Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in congo, republic of the, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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eCommerce
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General Overview

Electronic commerce is not widely used in the Republic of the Congo. The internet penetration rate is one of the lowest in Africa due to lack of reliable infrastructure and equipment. However, the country made a huge investment for broadband internet. The Republic of the Congo is in the process of expanding broadband access by connecting to the 2Africa subsea cable system. Also, the government drafted an ambitious program for the development of internet services.

Legal & Regulatory

Ecommerce is unregulated in the Republic of the Congo. There are no specific laws or regulations that are geared toward eCommerce.

Consumer Behavior

Purchasing online is a growing trend within the Congolese market. Lot of Congolese are buying online, although this market is not regulated, and we do not have current statistics to corroborate this fact. Most online purchase are done through WhatsApp or Facebook. Paying online remains a challenge so most of these online purchases are paid through cash after product delivery.

Intellectual Property Rights

Intellectual Property Rights in this market are set by a regional body based in Yaoundé, Cameroon called OAPI (Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle).  

Digital Marketing & social media

Most online sales in the Republic of the Congo happen on WhatsApp and Facebook but paying remotely is still a challenge.  

Local service providers overview 

There is no significant or unique-to-your market service providers on the Congolese market. 

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

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As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

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