The 11 winners of the second edition of Challenge Entreprise 2022 each won a check for 10,000 US dollars, on Saturday April 2, at the end of this competition organized in Kinshasa by the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo in partnership with the Federation of companies of the Congo (FEC).
Challenge Entreprise 2022 was centered under the central theme entitled “Congolese entrepreneurship at a time of new challenges”. This competition has set itself several objectives which aim to promote Congolese entrepreneurship, to encourage emulation between entrepreneurs, and to support SMEs, particularly those which have suffered negatively from the impact of COVID-19. These laureates are carriers of innovative projects in various fields of national life making it possible to diversify the national economy.
In his word for the occasion, Eustache Muhanzi, Minister of State, Minister of Entrepreneurship, Small and Medium Enterprises and Handicrafts, indicated that the DRC must fight to promote the development of entrepreneurship in view of its surface area and of its growing population.
“The Democratic Republic of Congo presents the image of an entrepreneurial desert in view of the low number of companies implementing there and the vastness of its surface area and its population estimated to date at more than 100 million inhabitants, whereas that the country is considered the world’s strongbox in terms of natural resources,” he said.
He also encouraged the 11 winners to break through for the development of entrepreneurship in the country.
“This day allows us to celebrate our champions, our winners of the Challenge Entreprise 2022 of the DRC. It is a question here of recognizing the courage, the bravery and the know-how of the women and men who engage in this fight to set up businesses in the DRC. “said Eustache Muhanzi.
According to recent statistics, the DRC has 600,000 SMEs compared to 109 large companies. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises represent nearly 80% of economic units in the country and constitute important levers that contribute to the creation of jobs and wealth for the country’s economy. All of these companies are found in major cities across the country.
For his part, Fely Samuna, President of the National Commission for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) of the FEC, praised the flexibility of the President of the Republic, Félix Tshisekedi, who gladly accepted the patronage of this competition. According to him, the Head of State’s gesture “proves sufficiently his particular attention given to the emergence of a class of Congolese entrepreneurs from whom he has the ambition to make millionaires”, he said. he argued.
Fely Samuna indicated that the ambition of the DRC to put its economy on the emerging curve by 2030, will only be achieved thanks to a substantial Congolese shareholding, thanks to a substantial increase in productive activity which allows the creation wealth and jobs.
At the end, the Challenge Entreprise 2022 ended with the delivery of non-refundable checks for USD 10,000 offered by the Government of the DRC to the winners.
The nominees who were not among the winners, each benefited from an envelope of 1000 USD each from the government. A way to encourage them to continue to hope in the field of entrepreneurship.
In turn, the winners of Challenge Entreprise 2022 pleaded with the government for better supervision and protection of Congolese SMEs in the face of the threat of foreign competition. They also praised the government for this opportunity.
In addition to the winners of the Business Challenge, a special prize was awarded to EquityBCDC, acclaimed, after a survey of a sample of 1,000 companies, as the bank that offers more facilities to SMEs in the DRC.
Below are the 11 winners of the second edition of Challenge Entreprise 2022
1. Entrepreneurial Initiative Category
• Ms. Tisya Mukuna of the company La Boîte (Kinshasa);
2. Female Entrepreneur Category
• Mrs. Gloriette Chitona Bulonza of the company Vive l’insecticide (North Kivu);
3. Best Young Entrepreneur Category
• Mr. Jérémie Kazingufu from Paper Bags Enterprise (North Kivu);
4. SME Local content category
• Mr. Lebon Bija Miruho of Savonnerie du Kivu (SAVOKI);
5. Best Provincial Performance Category
• Mr. Patrick Muhindo Kirere of BRISOL SARL;
6. Best Incubator Category
• Ingenious City (Kinshasa) ;
7. Best Agricultural Artisan Category
• Mr. Frederick Kalala Cibangu of Lift Business (Kinshasa);
8. Best Female Artisan Category
• Mrs. Evelyne Mwelu Tshibalala of the company “Woman Well-Being” (Haut-Katanga);
9. Best Startup Category
• Ulrich Kouesso from “Luka Pharma” (Kinshasa);
10. FEC 50 Years Special Award Category
• Patrick Muland of the “Mulykap” company (Haut-Katanga)
11. Ministry of Entrepreneurship Special Prize Category
• Bernard Tshienda of the “New Day” company (North Kivu).
Jordan MAYENIKINI
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