On February 26, Prime Minister Sama Lukonde exceptionally received the President of the Federation of Congo Businesses (FEC), Albert Yuma, as part of ongoing consultations for the formation of the next government.
On the agenda of the discussions, there were mainly questions related to economic recovery. On this specific point, the national employers have promised to send more detailed documentation before Monday to the Prime Minister. Nevertheless, Albert Yuma expressly recommended that Sama Lukonde privilege expertise at the head of ministries. As for the position of the FEC on the formation of this government, it is not interested in any position.
Albert Yuma was keen to enlighten public opinion because this is a symbolic meeting. “We told him, ‘It was a wonderful innovation to involve the FEC in the consultations,” “he said. There was no appeal from the private sector to the Prime Minister during the meeting between the two personalities who know each other well after a stint at the top management of Générale des Carrières et des Mines (Gécamines). Albert Yuma, chairman of the board of directors and of the FEC, is received in audience by his former managing director, whose merits he recognizes. “He has experience of the public but also of the private sector, so he understands our concerns. The fact of joining together is a very good signal, ”he said.
For Albert Yuma, the success of the economic recovery is conditioned by the in-depth reform of taxation and financial management, as well as the accentuation of the improvement of the business climate. In his view, there would be no alternative but the development of the economy and the mobilization of substantial financial means. Even if the presidency of the Republic relies more on the social, in particular peace, security, education and development at the base, the boss of the employers consider it essential that the program of the next government be more influenced by the search for an economy that really works and gives the DR-Congolese state the means for its action. Therefore, he is convinced that the private sector is a valid interlocutor. “He knows that it is towards the private sector, towards us that it is necessary to come. It is with us that he must work, ”he said.
Regarding relations between the next government and the private sector, Albert Yuma first assures the willingness of his association to provide all the necessary support to the Prime Minister. In addition to the tax bottlenecks mentioned above, he also calls for reform of the justice system and legislative frameworks to accelerate the improvement of the business climate. To revive the economy, the FEC proposes to the Prime Minister to pay particular attention to three sectors: mining for their contribution to domestic revenue, industry for local added value and job creation, as well as agriculture. and agro-industry which will be the biggest suppliers.
“We must quickly adopt texts for the industrial and agricultural sectors. National entrepreneurship needs to be pushed, and it’s not just through outsourcing. As in South Africa or elsewhere, we must make attractive laws for nationals, ”he asked. Albert Yuma has promised to come back to submit the written proposals of the RD-Congolese employers: “We will prepare everything we have told him in written documentation that we bring back to him by Monday at the latest.”