The Netherland’s Ambassador in DRC, Robert Schuddeboom, encourages the new Congolese authorities to redouble their efforts to improve the country’s business climate as a world economic powerhouse. Objective: to encourage international companies including Dutch to come and invest in DRC for the benefit of all (investors and Congolese people.)

« A better business climate in DRC is not only important for international companies, but especially for the 85 million Congolese themselves. Congolese people really deserve a better future. A better business climate is an area of ​​common interest where each government could make great positive and visible changes in the short term, « said the Dutch diplomat in DRC last Thursday on the occasion of King’s Day.

This means that without a substantial improvement in the business climate, where DRC has unfortunately one of the most difficult business climates in the world, it will be difficult to convince international companies to invest in this country.

Réunion constructive (grand merci pour l’invitation!) avec Son Excellence le Président de la RDC @fatshi13 @FatshiNews @UEenRDC Sur les 4 axes prioritaires. Soutien de la Union Européenne. Intervention sur la nécessité d’améliorer rapidement le climat d’affaires. pic.twitter.com/5bomeiBY9J

— Robert Schuddeboom (@rschuddeboom) May 18, 2019

Robert Schuddeboom sends a message to the Congolese institutions that are being set up: « as a friendly country, we hope that these institutions will work for the well-being of all Congolese. Indeed, the noblest aspiration of the search for power should be, in my opinion, the common good and not personal and selfish profits. DRC has assets to make this country a giant in the heart of Africa. Take this opportunity that some countries envy you. « 

In this process of improving the business climate, reassured the Dutch diplomat, the Kingdom of Netherlands remains willing to accompany DRC.

As a reminder, the Doing Business Report 2019 made public on October 31, 2018 ranked the 184th DRC economy (while it was 182nd in 2018) out of the 190. And this country had managed with 36.85 points out of 100 in concerning the « Business Facility ».

Thus, DRC had made significant progress in three reforms implemented as part of the improvement of the business climate; even though it will have lost two places in this World Bank Group annual ranking.

In the efforts of the previous regime, analysts believe that it is important for the current regime, as a prerequisite, to define a coherent investment policy that can boost the volume of foreign and domestic direct investment.

And its implementation will have the advantage of boosting the economic and industrial development of the country and consolidate the efforts undertaken for years to clean up the business climate and attract investment creating jobs, wealth and economic growth endogenous.

READ: 16 strategic directions for an efficient investment policy!

At the National Agency for the Promotion of Investments (ANAPI), the reflection is already matured in this sense and solutions are recommended in accordance with the vision of the Head of State, Felix Tshisekedi, declined in his inaugural speech .

Eric TSHIKUMA