Comment from Kimvuka Connect

Comment Submitted to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Docket: USTR-2026-0298-0001 Re: Annual Review of Country Eligibility for Benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for Calendar Year 2027 – Democratic Republic of the Congo Submitted by: Kimvuka Connect Submitted by: Dady Djamba, President Email: info@kimvukaglobal.org Kimvuka Connect appreciates the opportunity to submit comments regarding the eligibility of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for Calendar Year 2027. Kimvuka Connect is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening economic cooperation between the United States and Africa through entrepreneurship, workforce development, investment promotion, skills transfer, and diaspora engagement. We respectfully encourage the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to continue constructive engagement with the Democratic Republic of the Congo while encouraging continued progress toward the statutory objectives of AGOA. Trade preferences are most effective when they promote long-term economic opportunity, responsible investment, and stronger commercial partnerships. The Democratic Republic of the Congo possesses significant economic potential. Its natural resources, entrepreneurial population, and strategic location create opportunities for expanded trade and investment. The country's reserves of critical minerals—including cobalt, copper, and other strategic resources—are increasingly important to global manufacturing, clean energy technologies, and resilient supply chains. Continued economic cooperation between the United States and the DRC can contribute to sustainable development while supporting diversified and reliable global supply chains. AGOA has been an important framework for strengthening commercial relations between the United States and Sub-Saharan Africa. Continued engagement through AGOA encourages private-sector development, investment, entrepreneurship, and economic cooperation. At the same time, the annual review process provides an opportunity to encourage continued progress toward good governance, transparency, and an improved business environment. The Congolese diaspora also represents an important resource for expanding economic cooperation. Across the United States, Congolese professionals, entrepreneurs, educators, engineers, healthcare professionals, and business leaders contribute through investment, innovation, workforce development, business partnerships, and knowledge transfer. Organizations such as Kimvuka Connect help strengthen these connections by promoting collaboration between American and Congolese institutions and supporting entrepreneurship and professional exchanges. Kimvuka Connect respectfully recommends that USTR: • Continue constructive engagement with the Democratic Republic of the Congo through the AGOA framework while evaluating progress under the statutory eligibility criteria. • Encourage policies that strengthen a transparent, predictable, and competitive environment for trade and investment. • Promote responsible private-sector investment that supports sustainable economic development, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and job creation. • Support greater participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in international trade. • Recognize the important contribution that diaspora organizations can make in promoting trade, investment, innovation, and commercial partnerships between the United States and African countries. Kimvuka Connect believes that continued dialogue, responsible trade, private-sector investment, entrepreneurship, and collaboration among governments, businesses, and diaspora organizations can strengthen the long-term economic partnership between the United States and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We appreciate the opportunity to participate in this public consultation and respectfully encourage USTR to continue supporting policies that promote sustainable economic growth, responsible investment, and mutually beneficial trade relationships under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Respectfully submitted, Dady Djamba President & Co-Founder Kimvuka Connect Washington Metropolitan Area, United States info@kimvukaglobal.org