Following our very exciting visit to the EXPO on June 3, 2015, we finally got in touch with somebody who could really help us with the information we had been looking for in vain. This is what
Ms Kriss Brochec, the Communication Manager of the Congo Pavilion at the the EXPO,
wrote in an email after she had read our portfolio. She gave us permission to publish her very useful and kind remarks:
Dear Mechtild and Katia,
Dear Students ...
I have read your project with great interest and talked about it and show it to few people including the General commissioner of the pavilion of Congo and our Minister of trade and supply who is my boss too.
We all think that the ouputs you found for the coconuts are very very interesting.
However there are few points that needs to be pointed out :
- Lack of Energy , electricity is running out constantly and a really powerful engines is needed to make the stoves and factory work.
- Logistic matter, even if we gradually improving our road network, road are not in good state, if you want to import goods, you will need to have you own trucks to take the goods to the port
- Having a coconut plantation takes from 5 to 6 years what to do during these years ?
- Choosing the best site for your plantation, I am not sure that the region of Pointe Noire is suitable for such plantation...because till then I have not seen any...according to the different parts of Congo, soils are differents.
- 20 % of the production for the local people that sound too much for me since that the factory also has another social part : providing running water to the local community, maybe running school, running a local medical center ... that's what are doing most International firms on the top of their main activity...
- Language barrier : the international team will have to learn French and a local language (Kituba or Linguala, at least understand) . Because only few people speak English. Speaking a local language will enable you to work better with local people.
- The average wage for a qualified farmer will be between 150 and 200 euros per month, workforce is very low in Congo for local and low qualified workers.
So here are my comments about, otherwise you have doing a really great job.
Live is not easy everyday (in Congo) but I looks as if I have been bewitched by this country also there are a lot of opportunities... Congo is a country where everything need to be done. Each thing to be done is a business opportunity.
Any away, againg thank you for choosing Congo as country for your project.
Should you need more information or even planning a trip to Congo (who knows...), please do not hesitate to contact me. I will be very happy to help you.
Kind regards,
Kriss
Articles published in the local press:
Como section of La Provincia on June 6, 2015
WAZ - Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung Mülheim July 14, 2015
Mülheimer Woche July 29, 2015