Our Company Plantations et Huileries du Congo (PHC) and Equity Bank BCDC have officially announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening their collaboration with the aim of contributing to the socio-economic development of communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This strategic partnership, based on common sustainable development objectives, aims to pool the efforts of the two entities to stimulate the economic and social ecosystem of communities located in the regions of Boteka, Lokutu and Yaligimba respectively in the provinces of Equateur, of Tshopo and Mongala.
Through this MoU, PHC and EquityBCDC commit to collaborate in the following key areas:
Agriculture : Structuring and training of beneficiaries through the PHC Foundation to access financing, land security, market access and credit risk management.
Education : Facilitate technical and professional training for young people in PHC areas of activity to enable beneficiaries to integrate into the various agricultural sectors relevant to the region.
Financial Inclusion : Facilitation of financial inclusion of PHC workers and members of communities living around PHC operating sites, deployment of the network of banking agents and training in financial education and entrepreneurship.
This partnership is characterized by the co-creation of projects aligned with the needs of targeted communities.
On the PHC side, the activities will be executed by the PHC Foundation whose mandate is to amplify the social actions carried out by the company, as part of its vision of creating shared prosperity through agribusiness.
Ms. Monique GIESKES, Managing Director of PHC, added: “This partnership marks an important milestone in our efforts to create lasting positive impact in the regions where PHC operates. By joining forces with Equity BCDC, we are confident we can improve the lives of our communities in rural areas. Thanks to this partnership, we will facilitate access to financing for our 2300 producers who are members of the Agricultural Producers' Organizations (OPA) on our three operating sites, who are already receiving seeds. Through this collaboration, we will witness the emergence and start-up of an economic ecosystem in the provinces where PHC operates.”
Mr. Célestin MUKEBA, Managing Director of Equity BCDC, declared: “We are delighted to collaborate with PHC, which is a major economic player and a “green giant”, to support farmers grouped into cooperatives in the provinces where PHC operates. Our objective is to provide support to these communities by providing financial education through training, as well as raising awareness about entrepreneurship in order to help them become “Agropreneurs”. Once this step is achieved, we plan to provide financing covering the entire value chain of agricultural production, up to the disposal of their products.”
For more information, please contact :
For PHC:
Dr. Mpoko Bokanga
Executive Director, PHC Foundation
mpoko.bokanga@fondation-phc.org
For Equity BCDC:
Dr. Mitima Djuma Hamani
Executive Director, Social Investment Department
mitima.djuma@equitybcdc.cd
Media contact:
Lesly.Tungwa@equitybcdc.cd;
Michelle.Kimpwene@phc-congo.com