The National Agency for the Promotion of Investments (ANAPI) launched this Tuesday, July 30, 2019 in the walls of the Protestant University in Congo, its two days of awareness and popularization of reforms to SMEs. The program of these two days, provides a mini-conference, workshops on different themes, a fair and an exhibition village of companies and reforming institutions.

For Anthony Nkinzo, Executive Director of ANAPI, several objectives are pursued by this activity launched thanks to the partnership with ESSOR, a program of Great Britain.

The aim is to inform contributors about the reforms already initiated for SMEs and SMIs; to put the target audience in touch with the reforms; to collect the opinions of SMEs and the knowledge of others not involved in the reforms. Have their grievances that ANAPI needs to improve; to create a special interest in the institutions of the country (presidency, parliament, prime minister, senate), a firm commitment and a strong involvement in the process of improving the business climate; to make known to the public the ANAPI and to present its image and services offered; and show the partnership that exists with ESSOR.

Nicolas Wolley, Chargé d’Affaires of the British Embassy in the DRC, underlined the importance that his country attaches to improving the business climate in the DRC. This explains the $ 50 million invested for the period 2016 to 2020 by the ESSOR program.

According to him, several points deserve to be improved for a good business climate in the DRC. This is particularly the case with the fight against corruption and access to energy.

The interim Minister of Planning, who officially launched this activity, encouraged SMEs to formalize despite the many obstacles that still hamper business in the DRC. He cited the poor coordination of the reform process; the resistance of the public administration to implement these reforms; the low level of computerization; weak public-private dialogue; weak communication of reforms.

After this official side, the guests and students of the Protestant University in Congo (UPC) were invited to participate in the conference-debates divided into two groups. The first focused on « how, why, how and where to start a business? And the second on « commercial justice for SMEs« .

The second day includes five conferences.

Nadine FULA