NABC |

From 23 to 29 August, NABC organized a trade mission the Democratic Republic of Congo and Brazzaville. The mission took place within the framework of Public-Private Cooperation (PPC), a project initiated from the Schoklandakkoorden.

It was the first Dutch trade mission to DRC and for the majority of the delegation, consisting of 8 companies plus the EVD and ICCO, it was their first visit to the country as well. Even though, DRC is not the first country you think of when doing business in Africa, opportunities are numerous. And after a week of matchmaking and company visits, the delegation was positively surprised by the opportunities Congo has to offer. The company visits to Bralima (Heineken), Vlisco and SDV Agetraf gave a detailed insight in the business climate in the country. Vlisco, who just started their activities in Congo, gave an interesting presentation about setting up your business in Congo and the people from Heineken were happy to share their decades of experience in Congo with the other companies.
On Wednesday there was a brief intermezzo to Brazzaville. With a 5 minute speed boot drive across the Congo Fleuve the delegation arrived in Brazzaville. Even though 5 minutes away, it is a completely different country. With 2.6 million inhabitants Congo-Brazzaville is the smaller brother of the Democratic Republic of Congo where more than 65 million people live (in Kinhsasa alone 10 million). In Brazzaville, the delegation was enthusiastically received by the Honorary Consul of the Netherlands, Mrs. Hilly-Anne Fumey van Baggum. The delegation spent a whole day in Brazzaville meeting high-government officials, the Dutch expat community, local business men and the national press. On Thursday, before departure to Kinshasa, the delegation was invited to the Dutch Cemetery for an official visit in remembrance of the presence of the Dutch company Nieuwe Afrikaanse Handelsvereniging (NAHV) at the end of the 19th century. br> Back in Kinshasa we were invited by the Dutch Embassy for a reception at the residence of the First Secretary, Jan Huesken, where both the Dutch expats and the Congolese counterparts were present. After another day of individual company visits on Friday, the mission officially ended with dinner in Kinshasa offered by Vlisco.

Local newspaper clippings

• Brazzaville 1
• Brazzaville 2
• L’Avenir
• Le Phare
• L’Observateur