There is no standard measure between the city of Kinshasa and the provinces on the appropriation of reforms to improve the business climate in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The discrepancy is due, among other things, to the facts of the offers, the knowledge, the tools, and the bad laws, but also by political causes which make that specific reforms do not know either a beginning of execution or a weak execution. This is revealed by the preliminary survey on the ease of investing in the DRC conducted by the National Investment Promotion Agency (ANAPI) and Target SARL, a polling and consulting firm based in Kinshasa. The preliminary results were presented in Kinshasa on Tuesday, February 7, 2023.

The preliminary report of the survey conducted by the National Agency for Investment Promotion (ANAPI) and Target on the ease of doing business and investing in the 26 provinces of the DRC was presented during a workshop with delegates from the provinces, including the provincial ministers of planning, reveals a gap.

Through this study, ANAPI intended to collect precise information, particularly on the mastery of the concepts of the business climate in the provinces. To this end, the Managing Director of ANAPI, Anthony Nkinzo, said: "It was important that we could see if, at the level of the provinces, there is the concept of business climate, if the various reforms are put in place if there is an ownership of reforms and if the same realities are experienced both at the central level and in the provinces. As for the study, Anthony Nkinzo highlighted several indicators. "We also wanted to know if an economic operator could create a company in the provinces if the quality of the administration were favorable if there are provincial edicts of an economic nature in the provinces," he said.

Thus, the ANAPI-Target study revealed a gap between the practices observed in Kinshasa and the provinces. The MD of ANAPI gave explanations: "This gap is due, among others, to the facts of offers, knowledge, tools, bad laws, but also by its political causes which make that some reforms do not know either a beginning of execution or a weak execution."

Serge Mumbu, CEO of Target SARL, presented the survey results in each province. "We consulted several sources, including documentary sources and interviews with experts in the field; we also formed a sample based on data from the One stop shop, commercial courts, and high courts. It is, therefore, a perception survey; the citizens have expressed their views according to the indicators that have been proposed, "said the head of Target. Pending the inputs of various provincial delegates, the study reveals an insufficient knowledge of reforms in the business climate and investment at the provincial level. "The big trend is the knowledge aspect. Efforts must be made to publicize the reforms, which are not well known. In addition, a major communication campaign must be conducted. Information is largely conveyed orally, resulting in distorted information, misunderstandings, and confusion. This has also impacted the results of our study," said Serge Mumbu.

The provincial delegates appreciated the results of the study. Many believe this survey will enable them to improve the business climate in their respective provinces.

It should be noted that these provincial delegates have one week to provide their opinions on the report presented by Target SARL. After that, ANAPI will give the final piece to other institutions of the Republic.

Source: LePotentiel