The Collective of Economic Operators of Congo (Copéco) deplored on January 13 the non-payment in the context of the domestic debt of certain debts audited and validated according to the mechanism set up by the economic interest group Club de Brazzaville.
“Following the payment of part of the domestic commercial debt of the 179 companies audited and validated for 2014-2015-2016, it is important that our union take stock and analyze the payment process”, the President of Copéco Joséphat-Roger Obesse told the press.
According to him, the audited and validated receivables were paid in full from 0 to 100 million CFA francs and partially from 100 million to more. “On the other hand, other claims, although audited and validated, have not been paid,” lamented the president of Copeco. “We cannot relaunch activities with this part of the debt paid without counting the tax and social charges that we have,” he added.
Copeco suggests that the government publish the 2014-2015-2016 complaints report and prioritize economic patriotism with a view to reviving the national economy. It also calls on the government to re-mobilize funds for the continuity of the payment of the commercial debt, as well as the publication of the 2014-2016 audit report. The Brazzaville Club is an economic interest group made up of five banks namely BGFI Bank, LCB, Eco Bank, BSCA and the Postal Bank.
This club mobilized 300 billion CFA francs last year to pay part of the state’s commercial domestic debt. The eligibility criteria for payment have been defined including the commitment to relaunch activities in Congo, the sale of 35% of discount including 25% for the Club of Brazzaville and 10% for the State, the payment of social obligations and tax.
“All these criteria were adopted without negotiation with the employers’ unions which are the legal representatives of the private sector, despite the concessions ceded by the companies, namely the non-application of default interest on the due to the payment of the debt by the State” Josephat-Roger Obesse declared.
