Title: Kasumbalesa: a new modern customs building inaugurated by President Félix Tshisekedi
Introduction :
In Kasumbalesa, a new era begins with the inauguration of an impressive modern customs building by the President of the Republic, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo. As part of his fight against customs fraud and smuggling at the border, the Congolese head of state expressed his determination to maximize state revenue. This infrastructure project, managed by the General Directorate of Customs and Excise (DGDA), aims to facilitate the processing of customs files and speed up vehicle passage formalities. In this article, we will explore in detail the features of this new customs building and the positive impact it can have on the development of the region.
An imposing building serving customs modernization:
The new Kasumbalesa customs building is a modern construction of 2,600 square meters, equipped with all the necessary operational equipment. It is part of a set of infrastructures also including an 8-kilometer reinforced concrete bypass road, a cross-border corridor, bonded warehouses, two import-export car parks with a capacity of 1,500 trucks, as well as accommodation for customs officers. This modernization will make it possible to improve the speed of customs operations and optimize vehicle rotation, thus contributing to better management of commercial flows at the border.
Magalie Kayitesi Raway: a Congolese entrepreneur at the forefront of maximizing customs revenue:
The DGDA worked in partnership with the Congolese company TRAFIGO SARL, managed by Magalie Kayitesi Raway, to establish a reliable and secure system for maximizing customs revenue. Thanks to this system, using efficient software for traceability and collection of taxes and fees, the DGDA has seen its revenue increase significantly since the first year of its implementation. This initiative represents a real challenge in the fight against the leakage of customs revenues in the sub-region and constitutes an example to follow for other customs posts.
Positive impacts on the development of the region:
The secure channeling of state revenues to the Kasumbalesa border will help mobilize the resources needed to address the region’s economic challenges and facilitate cross-border trade. This modernization will also contribute to improving the working conditions of customs officers and better management of trade flows, thus promoting the socio-economic development of the region.
Conclusion :
The inauguration of the new Kasumbalesa customs building marks a major step forward in the modernization of customs infrastructure in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This project, carried out thanks to the fruitful collaboration between the DGDA and TRAFIGO SARL, demonstrates the commitment of the Congolese head of state to the fight against customs fraud and the maximization of state revenue. It also offers promising prospects for the economic development of the region, by promoting more fluid cross-border trade and effective management of trade flows at the Kasumbalesa border.