The talks were also attended by Kazimierz Choma, Chair of the Poland–DRC Parliamentary Group, as well as Deputy Chairs Jarosław Rzepa and Fryderyk Kapinos, both Deputies to the Sejm.

Potential for cooperation

Minister Stefan Krajewski emphasised that Poland sees significant, as yet untapped potential for cooperation with the DRC, particularly in the area of trade in agri-food products.

– ‘Poland can provide the Congolese side with not only substantive but also expert support in matters relating to agriculture in the broadest sense,’ underlined the head of the Polish Ministry of Agriculture.

Minister Krajewski also expressed the hope that the visit of the DRC representatives to Poland would be a stimulus for deepening contacts and cooperation between the two countries in agricultural matters.

Polish experience and expertise for food security

Deputy Minister Jacek Czerniak recalled that food security issues were a priority during the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU. He pointed out that, in this context, Poland is not only self-sufficient but also exports a surplus of its food production.

Secretary of State Jacek Czerniak proposed that the Congolese side cooperate with Polish agricultural institutes supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

– ‘We have enormous scientific potential which can also be utilised in the process of modernising agriculture in the DRC,’ added Deputy Minister Czerniak.

The DRC delegation expressed interest in cooperation regarding knowledge transfer, technological advice, and improving the quality of crop production—particularly in the context of citrus cultivation.

Chair Marie-Claire Kengo Wa Dondo noted that agriculture in the DRC faces a range of challenges. The main problems are a lack of food, as well as a lack of technology and infrastructure for its processing and storage.

Access to the market

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture expressed the hope that procedures regarding veterinary arrangements would be accelerated, enabling access to the DRC market for, among others, beef, pork, poultry, fishery products, as well as milk and dairy products.

Chair Marie-Claire Kengo Wa Dondo assured that she would forward the Polish requests to the relevant DRC authorities. She also expressed her readiness to support dialogue on agricultural issues.

Mutual agri-food trade

According to preliminary data, in the period from January to May 2025, the value of Polish exports of agri-food products to the DRC amounted to EUR 58.2 million, representing an increase of 4.6% compared to the same period last year. The main export categories were meat and edible offal of poultry, wheat and meslin, and edible offal of pigs.