In a bid to alleviate the financial burden on its citizens and counter the high cost of living, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has recently announced a series of significant measures. These initiatives underscore the urgency of implementing concrete solutions to mitigate the impact on consumers.
The DRC Government, in its recent Council of Ministers meeting, has taken serious steps to address the high cost of living. The Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy proposed these measures, emphasizing their importance in tackling this issue. The adopted measures primarily focus on nine imported products considered as necessities, such as meat, poultry, fish, powdered milk, rice, corn, vegetable oil, and sugar. These actions are designed to alleviate the financial burden on households.
In addition to these initiatives, fiscal adjustments have been decided, including the abolition of various duties, taxes, and fees on products like corn and corn flour. Other products will also see tax reductions or eliminations to lighten costs for consumers. Market regulation measures have been implemented, including controls on prices, stocks, profit margins, and cost concealment. These measures aim to ensure a more equitable and transparent economic environment.
Furthermore, legal and regulatory actions are planned to eliminate illicit obstacles that affect the prices of essential goods, with penalties for those who violate these rules. A revision of existing texts on competition and taxes is also envisaged to strengthen the legal framework. The Government emphasizes that these measures should lead to a significant reduction in prices, with an expected decrease of 20 to 25% at the importer level, which could positively impact citizens’ purchasing power.
The Vice Prime Minister clarified that these decisions were made after extensive consultations with various stakeholders, including political representatives, public institutions, private companies, and social partners. He also noted that these measures were thoroughly reviewed during specialized meetings. The Government also announces further actions to support local producers and combat obstacles hindering their activity. These measures demonstrate the DRC Government’s commitment to improving citizens’ living conditions and promoting a more equitable and dynamic economic environment.