The modernization of the Kasumbalesa border post, financed by the DGDA (Directorate General of Customs and Excise) and the Congolese company TRAFIGO SARL, has sparked strong reactions in the region. This ambitious project aims to effectively combat customs fraud and smuggling while maximizing state revenue under optimal conditions.
The inauguration of an imposing modern building of 2,600 square meters, housing the customs services and equipped with the latest technologies, was carried out by the President of the Republic, Félix Tshisekedi, on October 3. This building is also accompanied by other infrastructure such as an 8-kilometer reinforced concrete bypass road, bonded warehouses, import-export parking lots and housing for customs officers.
For Bernard Kabese, Director General of the DGDA, this modernization will speed up the processing of customs files and improve the fluidity of commercial exchanges. The DGDA financed this project thanks to its own capital, mobilized in partnership with the company TRAFIGO SARL, managed by Madam Magalie Kayitesa Raway.
The company TRAFIGO SARL, in collaboration with the DGDA, has set up a reliable and secure system for maximizing customs revenue at the Kasumbalesa post. Thanks to the use of efficient software for traceability and collection of taxes and fees, as well as transparent procedures integrated into the banking system and management focused on ethics and training of human resources, this system has already made it possible to increase customs revenue significantly.
Indeed, from the first year of implementation, DGDA revenues increased on average by 700 to 1,000%. This success is a concrete example of the fight against customs fraud in the sub-region, and demonstrates the effectiveness of the public-private partnership in maximizing state revenue.
Magalie Kayitesa Raway, Congolese entrepreneur at the head of TRAFIGO SARL, highlighted the importance of Congolese female entrepreneurship and expressed her gratitude to the President of the Republic for his support. This success is a real reason for satisfaction for the local population, who see in this initiative an example of the impetus given by women entrepreneurs in the development of the country.
Beyond Kasumbalesa, this successful experience paves the way for similar projects in other customs posts in the DRC. The modernization of infrastructure and the use of advanced technologies are real levers for fighting fraud, maximizing state revenue and promoting the country’s economic development.
In short, the modernization of the Kasumbalesa border post is a concrete example of President Félix Tshisekedi’s desire to fight against customs fraud and optimize state revenue.. This project, carried out thanks to an effective public-private partnership, opens new perspectives for the economic development of the DRC and highlights the dynamism of Congolese female entrepreneurship.