The Easy Commerce USA-RDC platform: what it could do, and what I’d like to see

There’s a new platform to promote investment in DR Congo from the United States, as well as import and export between the two countries.  The platform is called Easy Commerce USA-RDC (website (still being built); facebook), and is run by the Association of D.R.C. Entrepreneurs, which has the objective of entrepreneurial promotion and development.  One part of the platform is called Easy Profile, which was described by Ted Mvutu, the Association’s president, in a recent radio interview:
 
“We have planned the program called Easy Profile, which creates a virtual professional profile of a Congolese entrepreneur who is going to attract foreign investors who come to invest in the D.R.C.
 
“The investors who are coming to the D.R.C. have to find a platform of entrepreneurs organised so that they contact directly operators corresponding to their projects.  In this profile, we put the identity, the sector of entrepreneurial activities, and we are going to connect these factors to the U.S. Department of Commerce to facilitate the task of American investors who want to come to the D.R.C.”
(Ted Mvutu.  The text is my translation from the French)
 
A business directory of “Easy Profiles” could bring in two types of investors.  One type of investor could bring foreign direct investment (where a business is established in the D.R.C. and (at least partially) owned and run by the U.S. company), while the other type of investors could bring finance investment (where a business run by Congolese entrepreneurs is financed by U.S. money).  The encouragement of each type of investment would require a different emphasis on information provided by Easy Profile, and I hope that the Association specifies their own plans in more detail prior to starting the activities.  As the President of the Association says that U.S. investors can contact local entrepreneurs, instead of being contacted, it seems more likely that they will be bringing foreign direct investment rather than finance investment.
 
Foreign direct investment could benefit from the Easy Profile business directory in at least two stages: the search for new business ideas, and the acquisition of resources to realise an idea.  When considering whether to set up a new business, an entrepreneur will typically search for business opportunities from numerous sources, and show some flexibility in the opportunities that they will pursue.  Under foreign direct investment, the flexibility will typically be reduced, as the investor will be likely to have clearly identified production aims coordinated with other companies owned by the investor.  However, it is possible that local ideas and expertise may influence the details of the investment, for example if resources used in other countries are not readily available in the D.R.C., or if the best human resource management practices differ in the country.  Within a directory format, it may be helpful to include a section where each company could write freely about anything it considers important.  For example, it could describe the products it offers, or why it could offer something unusual, or any ideas it has for new products and services.  It could also give opinions on current Congolese business conditions and markets.  Easy Profile could translate into English.
 
The Easy Profile business directory could also benefit foreign direct investment by aiding the acquisition of resources to realise an idea.  The D.R.C. is unfamiliar for most potential U.S. investors, and they will want to find local companies which help them to realise their aims, by providing relevant and suitable goods and services.  Easy Profile could help them to find such partners, suppliers, and subcontractors.  The presentation and ease of access would be important – I would copy the design of leading websites in the area, and allow data to be sorted, collected, and extracted easily.  The website should be in English and French, so that it can be used by both U.S. and D.R.C. entrepreneurs.
 
To help investors to identify opportunities and D.R.C. companies, it would be helpful if the Easy Profiles contained the following information:

1. The date when the company joined Easy Profile
2. Company names
3. Names of the senior management
4. Names of the owners and directors
5. The region in which the company is based
6. The industry in which the company operates
7. Whether the company is state owned, or listed on a stock exchange, or privately owned
8. Whether the company is a subsidiary of a group
9. Whether the company exports
10. The number of employees
11. Revenue
12. Age of the company
13. Products or services produced
14. Whether the company is formally registered
15. Website
16. Social media
17. Telephone
18. Fax
19. E-mail
20. The forms of relationship that the company would consider (partnership, supply, buyer)
21. The company’s auditor

 
Further information would help to build the trust between investors and local companies.  Trust can be a major issue in any business relationship, and during investment in a foreign country it is of particular importance.  Helpful information may include:

1. A general statement about relationships with local investors
2. Statement of current or previous relationships with foreign investors
3. Audit reports, or at least accounts

The owners or senior managers could write freely about why they are competent to work as suppliers or partners.