The head of state, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi presided over the opening ceremony of the fifth edition of Makutano, this Friday, September 6, 2019 in Kinshasa. Two former heads of state, the representative of President Macky Sall and the President of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, took part with 500 business leaders and other personalities from 20 African countries.

For 48 hours, exchanges will focus on innovative levers likely to boost the growth and competitiveness of the DR Congo in the face of major global upheavals: artificial intelligence, climate change, energy transition, sustainable economy.

In his words of circumstance, the Director General of the National Agency for Investment Promotion (ANAPI), Anthony Nkinzo said that the real economic takeoff is possible only by the establishment of a strong, protective, and who is committed to strengthening legal and judicial security in the practice of business

« This has logical consequences: the establishment of a prosperous and strong private sector, key to competitiveness and growth, guaranteeing the establishment of a strong middle class, a competitive and strong economy » , he insisted.

For her part, the founder of this world-class forum, Nicole Sulu, welcomed the presence of five African heads of state who responded to the call of the Makutano business network to engage with the private sector.

« These five presidents with us for this fifth edition of Makutano embody this Africa that has already changed paradigm. Their mere presence clearly indicates that the link between the people and the top of the state exists, « she said.

Welcoming the new era of dialogue and trust between African leaders and forces, Nicole Sulu remains convinced that Africa’s time has come.

And to clarify: « our Africa can no longer be seen as a mere market for others. It is high time that it diversifies and enhances itself to play a major role in the world. And it seems obvious that this will not happen without the Congo in view of its potential and its geostrategic location in the heart of the continent.  »

Answering Anthony Nkinzo and Nicole Sulu’s questioning remarks, the head of state, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, believes that the revival of growth and the appropriation of the economy by his fellow citizens put the State and the private sector face a triple challenge. That of the capacities, the financing and especially the political will to work for the interest of the Congolese Nation in an open world.

« You will agree with me that all the challenges I have mentioned are shared responsibilities between the state, the private sector and, to a certain extent, civil society. We must therefore work together to succeed in the bets of education, vocational training, the promotion of entrepreneurship and more generally the structural transformation of our economy, « insisted the President of the Republic.

The activities of this International Forum will end this Saturday, September 7 by a Presidential Panel scheduled from 16:30 to 18 hours. There will be a gala dinner sponsored by Petrocam.

Eric TSHIKUMA