2024-02-11 23:00:03
While it should enable the creation of a middle class in the DRC, the law on private sector subcontracting still has a way to go. In three years, the Regulatory Authority for Subcontracting in the Private Sector (ARSP) estimated that 50,000 companies with Congolese capital should be able to obtain contracts. But only 1/3 ultimately managed to land contracts. The ARSP once again made a commitment at the beginning of this year to revise this figure upwards.
From our correspondent in Lubumbashi,
Gaël Mbala is the boss of the Congolese company Mon jardinier, specializing in the development and supply of goods and services. Despite the control mission carried out last year by the regulatory authority, he believes that accessing the subcontracting market is still a myth. “ It turns out that until now there have been no calls for tenders published either on the ARSP website or on other sites, he assures. We must support this ambition with many actions on the ground so that we, Congolese, can benefit from it. »
Golive Camping is another Congolese company specializing in catering services. With her five employees, she only wins small contracts worth less than $500. Which does not allow it to grow. “ If we could win big contracts, we would have the capacity to increase the number of jobs, insists Adiel Mikitshi, the director. We would go from 5 to 25 employees. Because we have cooks, there are those who take care of the cleaning and others who serve the customers. »
However, Congolese companies are unable to secure these subcontracting contracts. The shortfall for the state is estimated at $8.5 billion. The director general of the regulatory authority for this sector, Muguel Katemb, believes he has only one way to meet the challenge: “ It is to provide access companies with majority Congolese capital or companies eligible for the subcontracting market. Because once these companies access the market, they are established in the DRC, they will pay taxes and create jobs in the country and this will contribute to the economic development of the DRC. »
Success stories in the mining sector
But all is not doom and gloom in the outsourcing sector. Some Congolese have managed to win important markets, particularly in the mining sector. However, their financial capacities are often limited, explains Eric Lwamba, economist and former government consultant for the implementation of the law on subcontracting.
« As it is in business, we cannot give you major contracts if we are not sure that you can mobilize guarantees which ensure that if you fail to provide the services, your risks are really covered. », analyzes this specialist. With this in mind, the government set up the Guarantee Fund for Congolese Entrepreneurs (Fogec). “ The reality is that this Fund is not really operational in the sense that it fulfills its role to provide counterparties to these companies so that the risk is mitigated. “, he specifies.
Despite this financial challenge, ARSP hopes to triple the number of Congolese companies which sign subcontracting contracts, particularly in the mining industry.
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