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YEARBOOK Media

YEARBOOK

ECONOMIC REPORT

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In partnership with the Presidencies, Prime Ministers, and Ministries
and Investment Promotion Agencies

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General Conditions of Sale

General framework of the T&Cs. These general terms and conditions of sale (GTC) constitute, in accordance with Article L. 441-1 of the French Commercial Code, the sole basis of the commercial relationship between the parties. Their purpose is to define the conditions under which Via Agency "The Service Provider" provides the following services to professional and institutional Clients "The Clients or the Client":
– Sale of advertising space on dedicated locations via websites and/or by printing on all media, including paper and digital. The marketing of advertising space is carried out by all means such as websites, email, SMS, telephone, videoconference, in person and by any other means.
– Communication consultancy, in order to support and assist clients in the implementation of the design and production of advertising materials and/or the design, assistance, implementation and/or monitoring of advertising campaigns.
– implementation of editorials (articles, press releases, interviews, sponsorships, etc.).
– implementation of visuals (graphics, video, etc.).

Sale of advertising space and websites from Via Agency. Advertising space is sold on websites and through email, SMS, telephone, videoconference, and in-person communications. The websites described below allow, among other things, the sale of advertising space.  
via-agency.fr, yearbook-media.com, afrique.yearbook-media.com, cameroun.yearbook-media.com, congo-yearbook.com, madagascar.yearbook-media.com, rdc.yearbook-media.com, togo.yearbook-media.com

Other services. The services and activities of communication consultancy, creation of editorial content, visuals, the qualifications of the services, the deadlines for completion, the services rendered and the payment terms are the subject of exchanges between the Service Provider (its representatives, subcontractors or agents) on the one hand and the clients on the other hand in the form of Emails, SMS, telephone meetings, video conferences, face-to-face meetings, etc., and are described in the contracts binding the parties and/or in the purchase orders, finally by invoices sent by the Service Provider after the payment(s) for the Services.

Scope of the T&Cs. These General Conditions of Sale apply, without restriction or reservation, to all Services provided by the Service Provider to Customers of the same category, regardless of the clauses that may appear in the Customer's documents, and in particular its general conditions of purchase. 
The General Terms and Conditions of Sale are accessible on this website and on the Provider's other websites and are available to any Customer who requests them. Any order for Services implies, on the part of the Customer, acceptance of these General Terms and Conditions of Sale. The information appearing on the Provider's websites as well as the commercial proposals proposed electronically (email, messaging, videoconference, etc.), by telephone, on print media, or in sales meetings are given for a fixed period and are subject to revision by the Provider. The Provider is entitled to make any changes at any time that are within the legal and regulatory framework. The contracts and/or purchase orders set out the terms and conditions of performance of the services and the prices.

The services of selling advertising space, communication consultancy activities, creation of editorials and visuals, are considered complete only after establishment and signature of a contract and/or establishment of an order form accepted by the client and/or by payment of all or part of the service, one or more of these elements constitutes acceptance by the Client of the proposed service.
The Provider has electronic means to establish order forms based on customer choices (including order acceptance and confirmation). Customers can purchase advertising space on the Provider's websites with the best possible convenience and speed.
For orders placed by customers on the service provider's websites, orders are considered final when a customer validates their order(s). The Customer has the opportunity to check the details of their order, its total price and to correct any errors before confirming their acceptance (Article 1127-2 of the French Civil Code). This validation implies acceptance of all of these General Terms and Conditions of Sale and constitutes proof of the sales contract.

The order form and invoices can be downloaded from the purchasing website by the Client in pdf format and/or are sent by email by Via Agency to the client (if the Client has correctly provided his email address). The data recorded in the Service Provider's computer system constitutes proof of all transactions concluded with the Client. The client selects the start and end dates of his campaigns, which allows the duration of each campaign to be calculated. The first day of the campaign is dedicated to setting up the campaign; this first day is not included in the calculation of the duration. For example, a campaign with a start date of D and an end date of D+10 has a duration of 10 full days, i.e. from D+1 to D+10 inclusive.
In the event of a request for information or a failure to perform, the client should contact the service provider at the following email address: contact@via-agency.fr. The client must provide their contact details and a full description of the problem(s) encountered. Otherwise, Via Agency may not respond.

General frameworkAll advertisements and the elements that make up the advertisements (including images, videos, texts, sounds, etc.) must comply with French legislation.

Editorial charterThe editorial team of Via Agency reserves the right not to publish advertisements that do not comply with the legal framework and/or that would be detrimental to the company Via Agency.

Announcements and Intellectual PropertyBy accepting the General Conditions of Sale, the Client undertakes to have intellectual property rights (including image rights and copyright) on the elements necessary for the performance of the services, to transmit them to the Service Provider and to guarantee them for the entire duration of the performance of the services.
In the ordering and purchasing process, the advertiser declares that they have full intellectual property rights authorizing the reproduction and distribution of their advertisement on any medium. Therefore, Via Agency cannot be held liable under any circumstances for the reproduction and distribution of the advertisement, on any medium belonging to Via Agency, for the entire duration of its reproduction and distribution.
The transmission of videos, images, texts to Via Agency includes the transfer of intellectual property (including, among other things, copyright and image rights) for a minimum period of three years allowing the implementation, publication, distribution and management on all sites belonging to Via Agency.

Via Agency, the Service Provider remains the owner of the intellectual property rights, creations and productions of studies, designs, models, prototypes, etc., produced (even at the request of the Client) for the purpose of providing the Services to the Client. The Client therefore prohibits any reproduction or exploitation of said studies, designs, models and prototypes, etc., without the express, written and prior authorization of the Service Provider, which may make it conditional on financial compensation.

Advertisements submitted to Via Agency, whether visual or editorial, must meet the following specifications to be published on Via Agency websites.

Video. 16:9, proportional or other dimensions, videos in .mp4 .mov .webm formats. Maximum duration 30 sec. Maximum size 2 MB

Banners. 970x250px or 300x250px (or proportional dimensions). Fixed banners in .jpeg .png format, maximum size 150 KB. Animated banners in .gif format, maximum size 150 KB

Press releases. Documents including visuals and texts. Press releases in .docx .doc .pdf formats. Maximum size 400 KB

Interviews. Documents including visuals and texts. Interviews in .docx .doc .pdf formats. Maximum size 400 KB

SponsorshipsThe sponsorship text includes the company name and/or brand and/or logo. The text has a maximum of 4 lines for a total of 120 characters including the sponsorship expression. The font style, font size, logo dimensions, adjustments of the various elements and the final location are defined and established by Via Agency.

Current rates and price lists are available in the advertising space purchasing areas of the Service Provider's websites. Rates are freely set by the Service Provider and change regularly.

Overall, in order to promote country support and the ability of companies to communicate on the Provider's websites, the pricing scales are adapted to the different countries where companies are located according to the criteria listed below. The rates are set according to several criteria, including among others: GDP of the countries, GDP/inhabitant, Exchange rate against the Euro and the Dollar, number of very large companies and multinational companies in the country. The sources used to establish the classification of countries and pricing include, among others, the UN, the World Bank, the IMF, (other references may be used).

Via Agency may at any time change the country classification method, change the pricing schedules and the rates themselves, and create special cases. Via Agency may at any time choose to offer specific rates that may deviate from the general schedules presented by Via Agency. These may include promotional rates, specific campaigns, and targeted sales approaches.

Group A of countries with a tariff grid with very targeted and competitive prices on the market and consists of the following countries:
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Qatar, Czech Republic, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom.

Group B of countries has a price list with reduced prices and consists of the following countries:
Algeria, Argentina, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Hungary, Iraq, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Montenegro, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, Vietnam.

Group C has the most economical price list with very low prices and is made up of the following countries:
Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Belarus, Burma, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Curaçao, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ecuador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Laos, Lesotho, Lebanon, Libya, Macau, North Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mauritania, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Dominican Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saint Martin (Netherlands), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, El Salvador, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sudan, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Chad, East Timor, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The criteria, rates, creation of country groups and/or a country's position within a group may change at any time by decision of the Service Provider. Countries and country groups are provided for informational purposes only and may change very quickly.

The Services are provided at the Provider's rates in effect on the day the order is placed, according to the order form previously established by the Provider and accepted by the Client, as indicated in the "Orders & Characteristics" article above. The rates are net, excluding VAT, and are expressed in euros, the reference currency.

Depending on each country of origin and/or location of the customer, the latter may, according to the legislation in force, have the possibility of paying by credit card. The customer can choose to pay in a currency other than the Euro among the following currencies: USD, GBP, CHF, XAF, XOF, CDF, MGA. In this case, the rate in euros is converted into the currency of his choice on the basis of the exchange rate of the day updated by the supplier that openexchangerates.org every day at 4:15 p.m. (Paris time, i.e. UTC + 1 in winter time and UTC + 2 in summer time). The rate converted into currency appears on the order form and invoices. In the event of a dispute, the reference rates are those denominated in euros. In the event of non-convertibility and/or depreciation of a currency against the Euro, the Service Provider reserves the right to cancel orders whose conversion into Euro has not been executed due to non-convertibility and/or for any reason, including technical, banking, financial, administrative; or, at an exchange rate that is too low or unfavorable to Via Agency. The Service Provider alone reserves the right to decide whether an exchange rate is too low, unfavorable and/or unconvertible for its business.

– Payment by SWIFT transfer settles the Services in cash and in full on the day of the Provision of the Services ordered, under the conditions defined in the article “Execution of the service” below, and as indicated on the order form given to the Client. The payment period cannot exceed 30 days after the date of execution of the requested service. The invoice is sent to the Client after payment. Beyond 30 days the following penalties are applied, litigation
– Payment by credit card allows you to pay for Services in several weekly installments without charge, starting from the date the order is placed, as specified on the order form provided to the Customer. Payment by credit card is handled by Stripe.com. After each installment has been paid, an invoice is sent to the Customer.
Purchase orders are valid for 15 days after which, if the purchase order has not been paid, the Service Provider reserves the right to cancel it.
No discount will be applied by the Service Provider for payment before the date appearing on the invoice or within a period shorter than that mentioned in these General Conditions of Sale.
Late payment penalties are due in the event of payment after the applicable payment deadlines. The interest rate for late payment penalties is due on the day following the settlement date shown on the invoice if the amounts due are paid after this date. This rate is equal to the interest rate applied by the European Central Bank to its most recent refinancing operation plus 10 percentage points. Late payment penalties are due without the need for a reminder. The penalties are based on the amounts owed by the Customer and are calculated on the basis of the price including tax shown on the invoice and not the price excluding tax.
In the event of non-compliance with the payment conditions set out above, the Service Provider also reserves the right to suspend the Provision of the Services ordered by the Client and to suspend the performance of its obligations.
If the amounts due are paid after the date indicated on the invoice, the Customer will be liable for a fixed compensation of 40 euros for recovery costs in addition to late payment penalties.

Execution timesThe Services requested by the Client will be provided within 14 working days from receipt by the Service Provider of all the elements necessary for the execution of the services (the technical and administrative elements provided must perfectly correspond to the characteristics requested by the Service Provider) and from receipt of payment for the entire order for payments by SWIFT transfer or from receipt of payment for the first installment of the order for payments by credit card. The period of 14 working days is extended to 30 working days for orders placed during the months of July, August and December.
This deadline does not constitute a strict deadline and the Service Provider cannot be held liable to the Client in the event of a delay in the Provision of Services not exceeding 30 working days.

Ad Compliance. In the case of the sale of advertising space, a deadline for the execution of the service allows the Service Provider to check whether the texts and visuals transmitted by the client are compliant with Via Agency's editorial charter and the technical specifications appearing in the advertising space purchasing interfaces of the Service Provider's sites. This also allows to check whether the selected price scale is compliant with the advertisement transmitted. In the event of non-compliance, the client is informed by email, the finding of non-compliance suspends the deadline for the execution of the service until the texts and visuals are brought into compliance. Compliance is the client's responsibility. The Service Provider may modify the formats of the texts and visuals in order to correspond to the standards defined by the Service Provider to allow, among other things, a good visualization of the clients' advertisements. The Service Provider may offer the Client a compliance service which will be the subject of a specific quote. In the event of refusal to comply, or failure to respond within five working days to a request for compliance from the Service Provider, the Service Provider will not be held liable, the service will be suspended or cancelled at the sole decision of the Service Provider, and the Service Provider will offer the customer a refund for the order less administrative, legal and technical processing costs, the amount of which is equal to 50% of the total amount of the order.
Advertisements and the elements that make up advertisements must fully and completely comply with French law and Via Agency's editorial charter. If elements are discriminatory or incite hatred, or are inconsistent with the economic promotion of countries or the brand image of advertisers, advertisements will not be published or refunded due to administrative, legal, and technical costs.
By accepting these general terms and conditions of sale, the customer agrees to accept the decisions of the Service Provider and releases the service provider from any legal action, regardless of the jurisdiction.

How the service is provided. The elements necessary for the execution of the advertising space sales services include the selection of a page on the website allowing the advertisement to be associated with a page, the sending by the Client of technical elements in accordance with the specifications described in the purchasing interface, the choice of an advertisement format, the choice of the start and end dates of the campaign, and the selection of the nationality of the advertiser's company. At the request of the client, the Service Provider may offer a communication consultancy service and/or the implementation of editorial or visual materials which will be the subject of a specific quote.
The Provider's website(s) have an automatic English translation feature powered by Google Translate. The Customer may place an order using this English translation feature. However, the Customer is informed that only the French text will be authoritative in the event of a dispute.
The Client is also informed that the Provider's website(s) are evolving: among other things, titles and names may be modified, articles may be updated, etc. In all cases, the Provider makes every effort, with an obligation of means, to maintain the level of Services provided to the Client. The provider has no obligation of result; in the event of non-delivery of the service, the client will be offered a postponement to another date of the service and/or a replacement service, or finally a partial refund of the service (pro rata temporis). The services offered by the Provider depend on the operation of the networks carrying the internet, the services offered by other operators, such as the host Hostinger, or any other hosts and service providers used by the provider, so the Provider cannot have an obligation of result.

The Provider guarantees, in accordance with legal provisions, the Client against any lack of conformity of the Services and any hidden defect, arising from a design fault or from the Supply of said services, excluding any negligence or fault of the Client.
The Provider's liability can only be incurred in the event of proven fault or negligence and is limited to direct damages to the exclusion of any indirect damages of any nature whatsoever.
In order to assert its rights, the Client must, under penalty of forfeiture of any action relating thereto, inform the Service Provider, in writing, of the existence of the defects within a maximum period of 30 calendar days from their discovery.
The Provider will rectify or have rectified, at its sole expense, in accordance with appropriate procedures agreed to by the Client, within the framework of these general terms and conditions of sale, the Services deemed defective.
In any event, in the event that the Provider's liability is retained, the Provider's guarantee would be limited to the amount excluding tax paid by the Client for the Provision of the Services.
The Customer is not subject to the right of withdrawal unless the number of employees of the Customer is less than 6 and if the subject of the contract does not fall within the scope of the Customer's main activity. In the event that both conditions are met, the withdrawal period is set at 14 days. It runs from the establishment of the purchase order and its acceptance.
The Customer wishing to withdraw must inform the Service Provider in writing. If the customer has fully completed the administrative data (in particular, name of the person responsible for the purchase, up-to-date banking information, exact address, contact email), the Service Provider has 14 days to reimburse the full amount paid.

The personal data collected from Customers is subject to computer processing by the Service Provider. It is stored in its Customer database and is essential for processing the order. This information and personal data are also retained for security purposes, in order to comply with legal and regulatory obligations. It will be retained for as long as necessary for the execution of orders and any applicable guarantees.
The data controller is the Service Provider. Access to personal data will be strictly limited to the controller's employees, authorized to process it by virtue of their duties. The information collected may be disclosed to third parties linked to the company by contract for the performance of subcontracted tasks, without the Client's authorization being required.
As part of the performance of their services, third parties have only limited access to the data and are required to use it in accordance with the provisions of the applicable legislation on the protection of personal data. Apart from the cases set out above, the Service Provider shall not sell, rent, transfer or give access to the data to third parties without the prior consent of the Client, unless required to do so for a legitimate reason.
If the data is to be transferred outside the EU, the Client will be informed and the guarantees taken to secure the data (for example, for the United States in accordance with the adequacy decision of the European Commission of July 10, 2023 noting that the United States ensures a level of protection equivalent to that of the EU, adoption of standard protection clauses validated by the CNIL, adoption of a code of conduct, obtaining CNIL certification, etc.) will be specified.
In accordance with applicable regulations, the Buyer has the right to access, rectify, erase, and transfer their data, as well as the right to object to processing for legitimate reasons. These rights may be exercised by contacting the data controller at the following email address: contact@via-agency.fr. In the event of a complaint, the Customer may file a complaint with the French Data Protection Authority (CNIL).

Termination by operation of law for force majeure may not, notwithstanding the Termination clause for failure by a party to meet its obligations set out below, take place until ten (10) days after receipt of formal notice served by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt or any extrajudicial act.
These General Terms and Conditions and the transactions resulting therefrom are governed exclusively by French law. They are written in French. In the event that they are translated into one or more languages, only the French text shall be authoritative in the event of a dispute. The fact that, where applicable, the usual exchanges between the service provider and the client take place totally or partially in a language other than French, may in no case be considered as a waiver of the application of these general terms and conditions of sale or any of its stipulations.

These General Conditions of Sale are expressly agreed to and accepted by the Customer, who declares and acknowledges having full knowledge of them, and therefore waives the right to rely on any contradictory document and, in particular, its own general conditions of purchase, which will be unenforceable against the Service Provider, even if it has been made aware of them.

DRC – Interview with Mr. Anthony Nkinzo Kamole, Director General of ANAPI – in office in 2024

DRC – Interview with Mr. Anthony Nkinzo Kamole, Director General of ANAPI – in office in 2024

Capture d'écran 2024-02-17 105109

Interview with Anthony Nkinzo Kamole, Director General of the National Agency for the Promotion of Investments (ANAPI) and President of the International Network of Francophone Investment Promotion Agencies (RIAFIP) since June 2022.

 

Last year, you celebrated ANAPI's 20th anniversary. What is your assessment of it?

Reaching 20 years is a significant milestone in the life of an individual, as well as in that of an institution. Our celebration was less a celebration than a solemn opportunity to pause and take an uncompromising look back at the road traveled, which has never been easy.

Over the past two decades, ANAPI has initiated and/or coordinated several fundamental reforms in many areas, including fiscal, legal and institutional reforms in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since 2002, numerous efforts have been made by successive governments and all reforming services to provide the country with a legislative and legal framework that meets the standards of modern economies. The first signs of results are visible today (DRC's accession to OHADA, liberalization of the insurance and electricity sectors, creation of a One-Stop Shop for Business Creation, promulgation of the Public-Private Partnership Law, Entrepreneurship Law, establishment of provincial business climate units, adoption of the Reform Roadmap validated by the Council of Ministers, etc.). But we must continue the momentum of reforms and go even further, as competition from developing countries has increased, not to mention that from rich countries, making it necessary to regularly upgrade the system for receiving foreign direct investment (FDI).

The 2002 Investment Code, from which ANAPI is an emanation, certainly has weaknesses, but it nevertheless remains the instrument par excellence for promoting investments in the DRC. Although the discussion is now focused on its revision, we are nevertheless pleased with the results that the country has been able to achieve so far. It should be noted that between 2003 and 2022, 1986 projects were admitted to the benefits of the general regime of Law No. 004/2002 on the Investment Code for a total cost of USD 54.444 billion, likely to have generated approximately 250,000 direct and permanent jobs. The services sector is in pole position with 972 projects, or 48,94%, followed by industry with 800 projects (40,28%); Agriculture and Forestry with 137 projects (6,89%), and the infrastructure sector has only recorded 77 projects in 20 years, or 3,88%. 

Furthermore, in its 2022 annual report on foreign direct investment (FDI) in the world, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) ranked the DRC among the top 10 most attractive African countries for FDI with an estimated flow of USD 1.87 billion in 2021, representing an increase of 13,33% compared to the previous year.

While all these achievements are significant, we recognize that much remains to be done. The DRC has certainly become attractive again. However, the country is not yet experiencing the massive influx of investment we might hope for, given the enormous potential it offers. Regarding the business environment, in many areas, the effective implementation of reforms remains a real challenge despite significant efforts. Nevertheless, the momentum is building. The Head of State, His Excellency Mr. Félix A. Tshisekedi Tshilombo, is determined to rebuild the foundations of a modern Congolese economy with well-structured administrative mechanisms and good governance. We are therefore staying the course. For its part, ANAPI is working, in accordance with its statutory texts, to remain at the heart of the socioeconomic transformation of the DRC and the emergence of a genuine Congolese middle class. Our mandate, 20 years after the Agency's creation, is as urgent as it is crucial. However, it must evolve to allow us to fully play our role as a catalyst for development. Thus, ANAPI aims to become an investment promotion and "development" agency. Discussions on a critique of the current Investment Code have already begun with a view to revising it in light of current issues. Also, for the next five years, a focus will be placed on strengthening human resources within the Agency, seeking out sectoral specializations, and ensuring that the private sector is offered the best possible support.

Will you strengthen ANAPI's presence in all 26 provinces?

We do indeed have the ambition to strengthen our presence throughout the national territory in all provincial capitals, and internationally through hubs in strategic regions with strong economic growth. We believe this will allow the Agency to reach new audiences and gain greater visibility. This can also help strengthen ANAPI's reputation, while improving its brand recognition.

Also, as part of this expansion strategy, we were able, over the past year, to revitalize our provincial branch in Lubumbashi in Haut-Katanga, and then we opened a new branch in Bukavu in South Kivu. This year, we plan to announce the opening of the Matadi branch in Kongo-Central, where the process is well underway, but also to launch prospecting missions in Goma in North Kivu, Kolwezi in Lualaba province and Mbuji-Mayi in Kasai Oriental.

However, this deployment on the national territory and internationally requires significant investments in time, resources and expertise to successfully develop and adapt to the different environments in which ANAPI will have to operate. This is another challenge that we will have to take up.

What will the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) bring to your country in terms of investments?

The AfCFTA was created in an attempt to reverse a historical anomaly observed on the continent, where most of our African countries' trade is with the rest of the world and mainly concerns the export of raw materials, including extractive resources such as oil and minerals, as well as the import of manufactured goods, such as automobiles, electronics and pharmaceuticals, among others.

Around the world, trade and investment have been the main drivers of growth in developing economies and have enabled hundreds of millions of people to escape poverty. However, the fragmentation of its domestic market has prevented Africa from fully participating in this movement. According to UNCTAD figures, intra-African trade stood at 16.11t/3t of total African trade in 2018, a figure well below that recorded in Europe (681t/3t) and Asia (591t/3t). Similarly, intra-African merchandise exports in 2019 reached $70 billion, representing only 14.41t/3t of Africa's total exports. The purpose of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is precisely to change this situation. 

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will help generate the financial resources needed for Africa's economic development. Its goal is to establish an integrated African market where goods, people, services, and capital circulate freely, complementing regional integration efforts for the benefit of the continent's 1.3 billion people. Easier trade and investment and more vigorous competition would thus make Africa more attractive to regional value chain stakeholders and investors. Also, with its 100 million inhabitants, its geostrategic position at the heart of Africa, and the vast market it forms with its nine neighboring countries, the Democratic Republic of Congo is set to become a logistics and financial hub for the continent. The DRC therefore has a crucial role to play in developing regional value chains and in realizing the ambitions of the African Continental Free Trade Area. At the same time, the AfCFTA would also offer numerous advantages to the DRC, as to all countries on the continent, in terms of investment, notably by increasing our attractiveness to foreign investors through the simplification of customs procedures and administrative formalities for businesses; by stimulating economic growth and business creation through the efficiency of trade and the removal of obstacles to the free movement of goods, services and people; by promoting industrialization and economic diversification, by facilitating access to raw materials and by promoting the local production of goods and services.

What advice would you give to future investors in the DRC?

The DRC is a promising market for investors in more ways than one. And the country's economic outlook is extremely positive. The initiatives taken by the Government of the Republic have enabled the country not only to better resist during the Covid-19 pandemic (1.7% of real GDP in 2020), but above all to rebound more quickly afterward (6.2% in 2021 and 6.6% in 2022). All country risk assessment indicators indicate a stable long-term outlook for the Congolese economy, as indicated by the rating agencies Moody's, Standards & Poor's, and Bloomfield. The investment opportunities in the DRC are immense, that's undeniable. Investors interested in it still need to have the right approach and follow the process as described in our law. I tell them, again and again: "Follow the process!" My advice to economic operators interested in the DRC is as follows. First, conduct your due diligence. It is important to thoroughly understand the economic, political, and social context of the country in which you wish to invest. Investors should research investment opportunities, associated risks, and current regulations. The DRC is a developing country with significant economic, political, and social challenges. It is essential to consult professionals, such as specialized government agencies, lawyers, accountants, and consultants, to help you navigate the investment process and comply with applicable laws and regulations. 

Next, find local partners who will help you better integrate into local realities and find investment opportunities there. Finally, follow the process! Respect the country's ethical and environmental standards. This includes adopting fair business practices, sustainable environmental practices, and corporate social responsibility.

I therefore invite companies interested in the DRC to learn about our laws, the positive changes that have taken place in recent years, for example, regarding the promotion of public-private partnerships, or the measures taken to combat corruption and economic crimes; and above all to come and form their own opinion on the ground, to learn about the DRC in a way other than the narrative presented in the foreign media. For this, they will find one of the best possible interlocutors, in this case ANAPI, ready to provide them with all the support required for the deployment of their activities in the DRC. But I insist: the time to dare to go to the DRC is now! The future of the world is being played out in Africa, but that of Africa is certainly being played out in the DRC.

Source : YEARBOOK Economic Report

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