DP World appoints Mota-Engil to develop DRC’s first deep-water Banana Port

DP World has appointed Portuguese construction giant Mota-Engil to oversee the development of the Banana Port, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) first deep-water maritime gateway.
Located in Kongo Central province along the Atlantic coast, the port is expected to revolutionize trade in the DRC and strengthen regional economic networks. Banana Port, one of Africa’s largest infrastructure projects, will serve as the DRC’s primary gateway for containerized cargo, reducing the country’s dependence on foreign ports for global commerce. The port’s development will be carried out in phases, with the first one including the construction of a 600-meter quay, a 30-hectare storage area, and an annual capacity of 450,000 TEUs, while the second phase will expand the quay to accommodate larger vessels, significantly boosting the port’s capacity.
The project, funded by DP World, a Dubai-based global logistics and port management company, with support from British International Investment (BII), will create approximately 85,000 jobs and generate an estimated $430 million annually in new economic output. In addition to serving as a logistics hub, the port will streamline customs and administrative processes, benefiting local industries such as agriculture and manufacturing. Mota-Engil’s extensive experience in large-scale infrastructure projects across Africa makes it a strategic partner for the port’s construction. DP World envisions Banana Port as a transformative project that will reshape the trade and logistics landscape of the DRC, fostering economic growth and creating new opportunities for the Congolese people.