Article: Results of the business plan competition for the emergence of a new generation of entrepreneurs
The business plan competition for the emergence of a new generation of entrepreneurs recently presented its results during a feedback workshop chaired by the Minister of Entrepreneurship, Small and Medium Enterprises. The objective of this event was to share the initiatives of the support project for the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (PADMPME) and to highlight the impact of the business plan competition (COPA) on the beneficiaries.
In his speech, the Minister expressed his satisfaction with the results of the competition, highlighting the evaluation of the entrepreneurs who benefited from the financial support of the program. He was delighted to note that there are already Congolese millionaires among the participants, but also underlined the desire to continue to support more entrepreneurs and to promote the creation of a hundred millionaires.
The national coordinator of UCP-PADMPME added that the competition mainly targets small and medium-sized enterprises capable of generating value-added activities, particularly in the youth, agro-processing and service sectors. He also underlined the importance of supporting SMEs run by women, by reserving 40% of the allocations for these companies.
The results of the business plan competition showed significant improvements in the business models, internal processes and product quality of participating companies. In addition, investments have increased and market access has been strengthened thanks to the creation of distribution networks and the strengthening of synergies between players.
As for the business plan competition for young entrepreneurs, it helped to formalize their businesses, improve their internal processes and strengthen their management capacities. Many companies have been created or diversified, with the marketing of 1,210 new products. In addition, business partnerships have been established, facilitating the integration of value chains and access to markets.
These results attest to the success of the business plan competition in promoting entrepreneurship and the growth of SMEs in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They highlight the economic potential of the country and the importance of supporting entrepreneurs for the development of the private sector.
In conclusion, the business plan competition for the emergence of a new generation of entrepreneurs has contributed significantly to the promotion of SMEs in the DRC. The results obtained demonstrate the government’s desire to support entrepreneurship and foster the creation of jobs and wealth in the country.. It now remains to continue to accompany and support these entrepreneurs in order to consolidate their growth and stimulate the Congolese economy