TAKING THE SIZE OF THE ECOSYSTEM: "WE DID NOT START FROM SCRATCH"

“One hundred days is both a lot and a little,” summarized the Minister for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Crafts as she presented her initial progress report. Tasked by the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister with revitalizing a sector strategic for the diversification and growth of the national economy, she dedicated this first quarter to a complete immersion in the field, a phase she described as “ground zero.” Committed to the principle of state continuity, the Minister began by visiting all the organizations under her supervision.

Far from arriving in a blank slate, she commended the work accomplished by her predecessor while fully acknowledging the challenges ahead. This assessment allowed her to map out an ecosystem structured around two directorates general: the Directorate General for SMEs and the Directorate General for Crafts, as well as five major operational agencies: the SME Development Agency (ADPME), the Congolese Agency for Business Creation (ACPCE), the Investment, Guarantee and Support Fund (FIGA), the Subcontracting and Partnership Exchange (BSTP) and the National Crafts Agency (ANA). “Our goal is to make the ministry a fully integrated unit.

"What happens at FIGA must be known and shared by all other players in the ecosystem," the minister stressed, mentioning in particular the joint validation of the FIGA Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB), a coordination exercise that will now be generalized to all entities.

THE JOURNEY OF A BUSINESS CREATOR: STRUCTURED SUPPORT, FROM IDEA TO FUNDING

For project leaders, the minister clarified the entrepreneurial pathway established by her department. The first step takes place at the ADPME (Agency for the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises), where the project is analyzed and the business plan finalized. The entrepreneur is then referred to the ACPCE (Agency for the Promotion of Business Creation), which can register their company in just 72 hours. Finally, FIGA (Investment Fund for the Management of Agricultural Investments) intervenes to facilitate access to financing. On this point, the minister was keen to dispel any ambiguity: "These are not grants, but repayable loans." She specifically highlighted the Colissa program, designed for small business owners and young people working in the informal sector. For larger-scale projects, FIGA acts as a guarantor with banks to facilitate the granting of loans.

CRAFTS: MOVING BEYOND THE INFORMAL SECTOR AND AIMING FOR EXCELLENCE IN "MADE IN CONGO"

The craft sector received particular attention during this initial field visit. While the Minister acknowledged that working conditions for both staff and artisans remain difficult and require urgent modernization, she welcomed the successful 12th Conference of Ministers of CODEPA (Organization for the Development and Promotion of African Crafts), which saw the transfer of the rotating presidency to Mali. The key challenge now is to promote the upgrading of craft production through continuing education.

Drawing inspiration in particular from the partnership developed with Morocco, the ministry intends to strengthen the training of trainers, with a target of about ten per year per sector, in trades such as leather goods, shoemaking or other promising sectors.

A PERMANENT SHOWCASE TO SHOWCASE CONGOLESE KNOW-HOW

“My ambition is to give our expertise real visibility,” Minister Mboukou-Kimbatsa stated resolutely. “That’s why we’ve already launched preparations for the third edition of the Congo International Handicrafts Fair. But we want to go further by showcasing the Handicrafts Village, ideally located near the Massamba-Débat Stadium in the heart of Brazzaville. We want to finally offer our local artisans the permanent showcase they deserve.”

150-DAY MARK: TIME TO ACCELERATE

Without prematurely revealing the next steps, the minister announced a meeting at the end of the 150-day period to present the first concrete results of the reforms undertaken. As the finalization of the National Policy for SMEs and Crafts, as well as its action plan, nears completion, the course is now clearly set: to move from the observation phase to the acceleration phase. "The President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Denis Sassou N'Guesso, expects us to accelerate development," she stated.

After these hundred days dedicated to taking ownership of the sector, our role is now to give new impetus to our entrepreneurs. I invite all Congolese to consume local products and to proudly buy our artisanal goods,” concluded Minister Irène Marie Cécile Mboukou-Kimbatsa.