DRC: Sama Lukonde receives explanations from the FEC on the difficulties encountered in the private sector

The Congolese Prime Minister, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge, received, on Wednesday February 9, 2022, at the Primature, a delegation from the Federation of Companies of Congo (FEC).

During this meeting, this FEC delegation presented several questions related to the general situation of Congolese companies, in particular the problems these companies are facing.

According to Mr. Kimona Bononge, Managing Director of the FEC, the Prime Minister allowed his organization to present the multiple concerns of the Federation with a view to appropriate solutions.

“ We were received by the Prime Minister at our request, because there are a number of concerns that the FEC has raised for some time, but which do not meet with effective follow-up among members of the Government. And we also wanted to talk to the Prime Minister about fundamental issues related to the situation of Congolese companies. Congolese companies following the law on subcontracting do not benefit from contracts that are given when there are certain projects ,” he told the press.

Kimona Bononge also spoke of the need for Congolese companies to benefit from the Subtraction Law.

“We talked about the Tshilejelu project, Kinshasa zero hole, the local development project of 145 territories. You followed, like us, that the Head of State laid the first stone for the construction of the deep water port of Banana. We asked that Congolese companies also benefit from the law on subcontracting. You know that, for example, the deep water port of Banana, we have three big industries in Kongo Central which produce very good quality cement. Let’s not say the opposite, but it’s very good quality cement. However, there is a neighboring country which also sells cement which would like to corner this market. We have drawn the attention of the Prime Minister to give priority to Congolese companies. This cement is produced with limestone that comes out of our basement, with raw materials, and with Congolese who work in these factories, which create wealth in this country. It is inadmissible to import cement from a neighboring country or from another more distant country. We told the Prime Minister that we were going to have our eyes on him, on the Government so that this did not happen again“, did he declare.

Regarding the issue of tax stamps, the FEC reassured the Head of Government of its clear desire not to go against the law.

“ You have heard of the tax stamps that we wanted to put on certain products that are made locally. The FEC has just reassured the Prime Minister that it is not against and cannot go against the law. We have asked the Prime Minister for there to be consultations between the General Directorate of Customs and Excise (DGDA) and the Ministry of Finance under the aegis of the Prime Minister himself so that we can find a compromise on this file of tax stamps, underlined the Head of the delegation of the FEC.

Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde has promised to bring together the FEC very soon with certain sectoral ministers so that this question is raised in a precise manner, reassured the Managing Director of the FEC and Head of the delegation.