Fatshimetrie, October 20, 2024 – In Ituri, a province located in the Northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, women entrepreneurs are preparing for a major challenge. Indeed, the Business Plan Competition (COPA) is fast approaching, offering companies in the first category the opportunity to demonstrate their know-how and their capacity for innovation. The objective of this competition is clear: to promote the empowerment of women entrepreneurs and support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region.
Running from November 4 to December 31, 2024, the COPA primarily targets companies that have been in existence for more than three years. These established companies will have the opportunity to present their projects and compete for grants to strengthen their activities and promote their growth. As for new businesses, which are between three months and three years old, their time will come later, with the opening of applications scheduled for February and March 2025.
The COPA approach is not limited to a simple competition. In fact, it is part of the broader framework of the project to empower women entrepreneurs and upgrade SMEs for economic transformation and employment (TRANSFORME). Behind the business plan test lies a support program for SMEs, focused on strengthening entrepreneurial and managerial capacities. These companies will also benefit from subsidies to develop new products and expand their activities.
The primary objective of the TRANSFORME project is clearly defined: to improve the growth of SMEs in order to stimulate job creation and contribute to the transformation of the national economy. This is a national initiative that extends to thirteen cities and towns in the DRC, aimed at promoting economic development at the local and national levels.
In Bunia, SMEs are called upon to prepare for the competition, among the 800 companies that will be selected nationwide. There are no quotas reserved for a particular city, thus encouraging local entrepreneurs to surpass themselves and be ready to take on the challenge.
In summary, COPA represents a major opportunity for women entrepreneurs in Ituri to highlight their skills and entrepreneurial potential. Thanks to this competition and the TRANSFORME project, these companies will have the opportunity to benefit from personalized support and subsidies necessary to accelerate their growth and positively impact the local economy. The competition promises to be intense and the stakes are high, but one thing is certain: the innovation and determination of women entrepreneurs will be able to fly the flag for female entrepreneurship in Ituri.