With funding from Trade Mark Africa, the Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in partnership with the Federation of Enterprises of the Congo and the South Kivu Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Association, organized a business forum on July 4, 2023, in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Among the participants was the Cooperative for the Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture —COPAD.
In the presence of the Country Representative of Trade Mark Africa, the respective Presidents of the Federal Chambers of Commerce of Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the governors of the Burundi-Congo border provinces, and businesspeople from various parts of both countries, the forum was organized to create a platform for Burundian and Congolese stakeholders and industrialists to meet, with the aim of giving participants the opportunity to identify potential business partners and discuss certain issues that hinder trade relations between the two countries.
Geopolitical Business Context
The forum provided an opportunity for participants to discuss issues related to tariff and non-tariff barriers affecting cross-border trade between the two countries. It also enabled economic operators to highlight and foster a positive business climate between Burundi and the Congo through B2B meetings.
Since Burundi and the Congo are neighboring countries that share similar political, social, and economic contexts, the forum’s mission was to strengthen business ties between Burundian and Congolese economic operators in order to establish an effective trade regime and promote exports and cross-border trade.
Added Value for COPAD
The Cooperative for the Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture had been delegated by the SOPAD consortium to be represented through the Association of Businesswomen of Burundi (AFAB).
Ms. Claudette Nduwayezu, a representative of COPAD, highlighted her vision of promoting the development and empowerment of young people and women, as well as job creation. To this end, cross-border trade would provide added value for the women’s and youth groups she represents. The Forum also served as an opportunity to showcase products processed and sold under the NIKO label, and for her, it represents a golden opportunity to network with other economic operators and forge lasting partnerships with them.
She also stated that the Forum provided an opportunity to discuss the challenges faced by women in business in both Burundi and the Congo, particularly regarding the import and export of agri-food products.
When another issue regarding the measures recommended by administrative officials and governors of the provinces bordering Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo was raised, solutions were proposed, and it came as a sigh of relief to business operators in both countries, as this would represent a vast business opportunity. “The Congo offers an untapped consumer market and is brimming with business opportunities, and this could boost entrepreneurship among young people and women by making trade between our two countries both attractive and rewarding,” confirmed Ms. Claudette Nduwayezu.
A Path to Expanding Our Business
Ms. Claudette Nduwayezu says that her participation in the Forum has strengthened her determination to work harder. Her dream was to meet other business operators, particularly other women engaged in the same activities as she is. It is for this reason that she extends her heartfelt thanks to the Forum’s organizers and, in particular, commends Trade Mark Africa’s commitment to promoting exports. She also highlights the commitment by administrative authorities to facilitate cross-border trade, as well as the participants’ suggestions and proposals for improving the business climate. She is optimistic that once tariff and non-tariff barriers are eliminated and the business climate is improved, the Simplified Trade Regime (RECOS) is operational, and cross-border procedures are streamlined, a solution to the expansion of commercial activities could be provided.
ID Editorial Team
