The rehabilitation works of the International Fair of Kinshasa (Fikin) are at a standstill. Differences between the Turkish company Milvet and the Congolese authorities are at the root of this situation. The Milvet company exceeded the authorizations given by the Fikin management committee. It has extended its work over an area of 6 hectares, from the Plazza space to the Fikin esplanade and for a period of 10 years. The timing set for the completion of the work is too elastic, the Milvet company intends to buy back the said space in the event that the rehabilitation of the Fikin takes longer than expected.
As rehabilitation work had begun and the site was emptied of its occupants, the Turks demanded additional space for their headquarters and agreed to pay 60,000 US dollars per month for the rental of these 6 hectares. Fikin officials denounced these demands in front of the press.
Among the rehabilitation projects of the Fikin, it is planned to build an exhibition center, an amusement park, a hotel, a shopping center, a conference center, and a multifunctional arena with 20,000 seats including an exhibition center with an area of 21,000 square meters. The amusement park will be erected on an area of 15-16% of the total area, apart from other facilities such as the hotel, the banquet hall and the congress hall.
Work is on hold pending a decision by the management committee on the follow-up to be given to this dispute, which compromises not only the smooth running of the rehabilitation work at Fikin but also the good understanding between the company Milvet and the authorities. Congolese