The government uses the expertise of PWC

The diversification of the economy is an irreversible goal that the government has set itself to get Congo out of its suicidal dependence on oil. In this process, the executive is constantly expanding initiatives and partners. This is the focus of the mission currently carried out by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) experts in Brazzaville. From one ministerial department to another, they organize working sessions to explain their methodology and define with Congolese counterparts the framework of its intervention in Congo. The minister in charge of the economy, Gilbert Ondongo expressed the interest of his country to benefit from the rich experience of this firm which, for 25 years, works in leading large transformation projects in partnership with administrations, international organizations, public institutions of local authorities in France and Africa.

For several decades, Congo has, year after year, registered the diversification of its economy in its development program but its economy remains largely dependent on oil. This is evidenced by the poor results of on-going or completed projects and programs. Here allusion is made to the Economic Diversification Support Project (PADE) implemented since 2011 and the National Development Program (NDP) 2012-2016. These two programs, we know, have not been successful despite huge sums of money injected. For example, the PADE was co-financed by Congo and the World Bank to the tune of 10 billion FCFA. In six years of exercise, its results call for reflection. However, the objective of this project is very clear: to promote investments in non-oil value chains and to support a SME fabric.

The PWC firm, active in several countries and at the disposal of many international institutions around the world, intends to impact its methodology on the diversifying Congolese economy today which is in a poor state. Its approach is contrary to others: avoid the scattered approach seen in most projects initiated for the same purpose, preferring to focus on a few specific areas to avoid over-embracing. PWC identified several factors of competitiveness and the acceleration of reform on the so-called key sectors. The aim is to achieve economic diversification by targeting the impacts of different projects in terms of job creation and GDP improvement.

During their working session with officials from the Ministry of Economy, Industrial Development and Private Sector Promotion, PWC experts emphasized the promotion of public-private dialogue. Whereas it is the private sector that has the mission of diversifying the economy; the State playing only the role of regulation. Presenting PWC's strategy, Davidson Moutou, the firm's senior manager, was explicit about the vision of the firm he runs:

- Support in defining the strategic vision of governments and public bodies, development of implementation plans;

- Evaluation of public policies;

- Development of internal and external communication.

PWC is active in 34 countries including Senegal, Algeria, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia ..., where it is involved in missions to design and implement performance improvement projects, while controlling the efficiency of management and respecting the high requirements for the use of public resources, in harmony with the specificities of each State.

A difficult mission in Congo?

The task that awaits the PWC cabinet is not easy, especially because of the habits installed here. However, it must succeed where others have failed, including proposing to the government a more realistic offer on the conditions of the emergence of the private sector, to attract investment in value-added non-oil value chains. This assumes a truly clean business climate, not mere words such as good conscience. The reforms undertaken so far, are they sufficient to allow the firm PWC to exercise well? Otherwise, drawing on its experience, particularly his partnership with the various countries where the firm has been working, in order to take the path capable of driving Congo in the right direction. What is certain is that today, the country is far below in the Doing Business ranking, i.e. 176th place in 2016. To succeed in its mission, the PWC firm is called to make a good reading of the PND 2012-2016 and PADE, and learn how to draw all necessary lessons. Executed at great expense with noble objectives for the country, these two projects were almost unsatisfactory, even if in the reports of the various journals, the results presented are positive. In this country plagued by mismanagement, fraud, corruption and corruption, it would be imperative to undertake public finance reforms to inaugurate the culture of transparency and accountability, to focus management on the results. Similarly, as defined in the records of PWC, dedicated monitoring and evaluation planning structures should be put in place.

Jules Débel