DRC Signs Gold Supply Deal with UAE Firm to Expand Access to Global Bullion Markets
DR Congo Partners with UAE-Based Paradigm Holdings to Boost Gold Exports Through Dubai Trading Hub
The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has signed a gold supply agreement with UAE-based Paradigm Holdings, marking a new step in efforts to expand the country’s access to international bullion markets through Dubai.
The deal highlights the growing role of the United Arab Emirates as a key intermediary in global gold trade, connecting resource-rich African producers with international buyers.
Dubai has strengthened its position as a major global trading and refining hub, attracting commodity companies seeking efficient export routes, advanced logistics, and reliable financial infrastructure.
For the DRC, the partnership is part of a broader strategy to formalise mineral supply chains and increase participation in global commodity markets.
Paradigm Holdings said the agreement will support the development of a long-term gold supply chain while securing the company’s access to one of Africa’s most mineral-rich economies.
The DRC is a leading producer of gold, copper, and cobalt minerals that are essential for global manufacturing, electronics, and the clean energy transition.
The partnership represents the company’s third government-backed agreement with an African country in the past two years, reflecting a wider strategy to scale operations across the continent and integrate them with Middle Eastern trading networks.
According to Steven Hawkins, founder of Paradigm Holdings, the company’s presence in the UAE provides a strategic platform for international expansion.
He noted that the country’s regulatory framework and logistics infrastructure make it well suited for cross-border commodity trading and supply chain coordination.
Hawkins added that the agreement with the DRC marks an important milestone in building a broader and more resilient supply network.
With multiple government partnerships in place and new refinery projects underway, the company aims to establish a scalable system that links African mineral production directly to global markets through the UAE’s trading ecosystem.
The deal comes amid a broader shift in the commodities sector toward vertically integrated business models that combine sourcing, processing, and trading within a single supply chain.
Analysts say this approach can improve transparency, reduce transportation costs, and allow companies to capture more value at different stages of production.
As part of its expansion strategy, Paradigm is advancing refinery projects in Cape Verde, Morocco, and Rwanda.
These facilities are intended to increase mineral processing capacity closer to mining sites, reducing reliance on distant refining centres while maintaining export links through Dubai.
The move aligns with a wider trend among African resource producers seeking to retain more value domestically by developing local processing capabilities, even as they continue to rely on established global hubs for distribution, financing, and international trade.
While the financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, the partnership signals deepening economic ties between African mineral producers and Gulf-based trading firms at a time when global supply chains are being reshaped by changing demand patterns, supply security concerns, and intensifying geopolitical competition.
