Authorities in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo say existing payment systems in both markets are functional and capable of formalizing financial flows between the two countries, as efforts intensify to deepen economic integration.
The assessment was highlighted during the closing session of the 3rd Angola–DRC Economic Forum on Thursday, where officials underscored the need to shift significant volumes of informal cross-border transactions into formal financial channels to enhance transparency and support trade.
The initiative aligns with broader efforts to strengthen cooperation between banking institutions, including ongoing engagements aimed at enabling Angolan banks to operate within the Congolese financial system, thereby facilitating smoother financial transactions and investment flows.
Officials emphasised that despite strong economic potential between the two neighbouring countries, a substantial portion of trade along their extensive shared border remains informal, limiting revenue mobilisation and financial oversight.
The push to leverage existing payment infrastructure is therefore seen as a strategic pathway to formalise economic activity, improve regulatory visibility, and unlock greater value from bilateral trade and investment relations.