The President of the Republic, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi, recently inaugurated the new customs post of Kasumbalesa, on the border with Zambia. This set of modern infrastructures aims to facilitate and streamline cross-border trade.
At the heart of these infrastructures is a 2,600 square meter building, equipped with all the equipment necessary for the proper functioning of customs services. In addition, an 8-kilometer bypass road was built in reinforced concrete to facilitate the flow of trucks and goods.
These customs infrastructures were created thanks to a partnership between the General Directorate of Customs and Excise (DGDA) and the company TRAFIGO SARL, managed by Magalie Kayitesa Raway. This partnership has enabled the establishment of an electronic system for payment of crossing fees, which guarantees transparent and secure traceability of customs revenue.
The modernization of the Kasumbalesa customs post is a laudable initiative, which aims to combat revenue leakage and maximize state resources. Thanks to this system, customs revenues saw a significant increase from the first year of implementation.
This project is also a great success for Congolese female entrepreneurship, with Magalie Kayitesa Raway at its head. President Tshisekedi’s vision to promote female entrepreneurship has been brought to life through this public-private partnership.
In conclusion, the inauguration of the new Kasumbalesa customs post marks an important step in the modernization of Congolese customs. This project demonstrates the State’s desire to fight against revenue leakage and to facilitate cross-border trade. It also represents a success for Congolese female entrepreneurship and demonstrates the potential of public-private partnership in the creation of quality infrastructure.