DRC: business climate, the need to adopt a reform strategy document

There are voices within the Congolese private sector to advocate for a policy and strategy document on business climate reforms to ensure the long-term implementation of coordinated efforts. At the Federation of Congo Enterprises (FEC), it is believed that this would allow the country to undertake inclusive reforms, more extensive and in-depth with prospects of convincing results.

Indeed, the improvement of the business climate is not a slogan and should not be limited to the assessment of only « Doing business » indicators monitored by the National Agency for the Promotion of Investments (Anapi). Experts argue that the good business climate is measured primarily in the acts that accompany the daily lives of economic operators in a country.

In the DRC, there is therefore a need to redouble efforts to ensure that the country is no longer behind and less attractive. The action to be taken, in the continuity of the acquired assets, should allow the serious investors, national or foreign to bring their fresh capital to invest in the DRC.

During its ordinary general meeting for the year 2018, the Federation of Enterprises of the Congo (FEC) has repeatedly shouted its disapproval of the many cases that do not promote the improvement of the business climate as desired by all.

Some striking cases

CEF President Albert Yuma cited the transformation of the National Coffee Board (ONC) into ONAPAC, with the abusive extension of its interventions to a large number of agricultural products, other than coffee. Which, according to Albert Yuma, creates a serious problem of duplication with other public control services such as the Congolese Office of Control (OCC), the quarantine services of agriculture, hygiene and others. .

A problem that, if not well managed, may worsen the current situation of the DRC, which happens to be a net importer of food. What constitutes, in view of its potential in arable and arable lands, a scandal but especially an economic and social risk.

This decision to turn the ONC into ONAPAC has only « incited economic operators to pour themselves into the informal and push the government to resort to imports and foreign currency, while the legislation should be adapted to encourage the emergence of industrial-scale agro-food companies, as we regularly report to successive ministers in charge of the sector « .

Maintaining and extending the perception of the Land Logistic Fee (LRT) also does not promote the improvement of the business climate. This tax, introduced for the renewal of rolling stock over a two-year period at the Port of Matadi, has been expanded at almost all border crossings, even where there is no rail line. This, despite its illegal nature.

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Finally, calls the FEC, the business world can not develop following multiple illegal and irregular economic controls including those performed by unauthorized services such as the General Inspectorate of Finance, the police, prosecutors, the ANR, motivated by looking for easy winnings because of the « adviser » bonus.

Beyond the interpellation, the Congolese employers also made proposals to the competent authorities. They provide solutions to the problems that businesses face and aim to improve the environment in which they operate.

Olivier KAMO