Congo DRC Launches A Guarantee Fund For Young Entrepreneurs

The Office for the Promotion of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Congo DR has launched a program to support young people in entrepreneurship. Among the objectives, the establishment of a guarantee fund to allow young people to obtain the financing necessary for the creation of businesses.

Ezechiel Biduaya, OPEC director general
OPEC director general Ezechiel Biduaya

The National Program for the Development of Entrepreneurship in Congo (PRONADEC) was launched Monday, September 21 by the Office for the Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (OPEC), and the Minister of SMEs. Through this initiative, the OPEC’s mission is to make the business ideas of young people a reality.

Among other resolutions, the establishment of a guarantee fund to allow young people to easily obtain the necessary credits to embark on entrepreneurship, the establishment of a support program for the development of microphones, small and medium-sized enterprises, or proposals on integrating entrepreneurship education into the school curriculum.

Guarantee Fund Congo Guarantee Fund Congo

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According to the director general of the OPEC Ezéchiel Biduaya Musumba, the DR Congo faces “enormous challenges in terms of job creation and reduction of the unemployment rate”. This program aims to facilitate business creation, boost job creation and provide access to finance and credit. The implementation of support programs for women and youth was also announced for the coming weeks.
In the long term, PRONADEC will help promote the entrepreneurial spirit among young people, so that entrepreneurship becomes a lever for the country’s development.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer