A digital door opens
Brazzaville’s entrepreneurs no longer need to cross town with a stack of papers. The new online business-creation platform, unveiled by Minister Jacqueline Lydia Mikolo on 5 December, promises company registration from any phone or laptop, 24 hours a day.
Two CEOs clicked through the process live on stage and received their digital certificates within minutes, drawing applause from diplomats, tech partners and fellow officials who see the service as a turning point for Congo’s enterprise scene.
How the portal works
After creating a secure account, founders upload identification, fill in share details and choose a legal status. The platform automatically routes files to tax, social security and trade-register desks, cutting the traditional circuit from several days to one.
A dashboard tracks progress in real time, while chatbots answer basic questions. More complex issues can be escalated to human agents without leaving the page, smoothing the journey for first-time entrepreneurs and seasoned managers alike.
Data protection at the core
Mindful of rising cyber-risks, Mikolo insisted that every interaction is encrypted and stored on servers audited by the National Agency for Data Protection. “Confidentiality is an absolute imperative,” she told reporters after the launch ceremony.
Industry lawyer Aurélie Okouango welcomes the stance. She says predictable safeguards could attract regional investors who previously hesitated to upload sensitive corporate charters or personal IDs onto less transparent platforms across Central Africa.
Call 1730 for guidance
Digital inclusion does not stop at keyboards. A toll-free hotline, 1730, operates alongside the portal, offering voice guidance in French about forms, fees and deadlines. Agents can even walk callers through each screen step by step.
According to Dieumerci Kibangou, Director-General of the Congolese Agency for Business Creation, the centre receives around fifty test calls a day since soft opening, proving demand among entrepreneurs outside major cities.
Additional staff will be added over the coming weeks, and Mikolo confirms that Lingala, Kituba and English options are scheduled for 2024, “so no dream remains blocked by language,” she said.
Opening doors for youth
Congo counts roughly 5,000 formal SMEs, a modest figure compared with its youthful population. Authorities hope the one-stop portal will slash informal activity and empower graduates to transform freelance gigs into registered companies with access to bank credit.
Julien Ngoma, 27, who sells organic juice in Pointe-Noire, followed the live stream and plans to register next week. “My clients trust a tax receipt,” he says, “and suppliers give better prices to legal businesses.”
Private sector reaction
The Chamber of Commerce applauds the government-tech consortium that built the system in six months, citing cooperation between finance, telecommunications and interior ministries. Observers note the speed contrasts with lengthier reforms in some neighbouring markets.
However, accountant Rosalie Mabiala reminds newcomers that digital certificates still require good bookkeeping. “Registration is step one. Staying compliant with taxes and social funds keeps doors open to public contracts,” she warns.
Towards full e-government
The SME portal is part of Congo Digital 2025, a roadmap aiming to move 80 percent of public services online. Recent milestones include electronic birth certificates and an e-tax portal, both rolled out earlier this year.
World Bank analyst Patrice Ekouya believes streamlined procedures will improve Congo’s ranking in continental competitiveness indexes. “Investors look first at how fast they can open shop. This sends a clear, modern message,” he told a local radio station.
What entrepreneurs should remember
Founders now have a single URL and a single number to start their journey. Fees remain unchanged at 15,000 FCFA for standard limited companies, and payment can be made by mobile money, bank card or cash deposit.
Certificates are delivered electronically and printed copies can be collected later at the agency’s counters, though officials hint home delivery via postal service might follow. Feedback buttons invite users to report bugs, helping fine-tune the platform in real time.
For entrepreneurs, the message is simple: the lines are shorter, the screens are open and the opportunity to formalise a dream is now only a few clicks—or a free phone call—away.
Looking ahead to 2024
Officials are already coding the next update, which will link the portal directly to commercial banks. Loan officers will be able to verify registration numbers instantly, cutting the time for a start-up overdraft or equipment lease from weeks to hours in the busy capital.
A pilot integration with the national social-security fund is also scheduled, allowing employers to enroll staff online as soon as the company is formed. Analysts say the move could increase formal wage declarations and expand health-insurance coverage for thousands of young urban workers.
Meanwhile, tech hubs in Oyo, Dolisie and Pointe-Noire plan roadshows explaining the new tools. “We want to meet artisans in their workshops, not just on social media,” says organiser Marcel Tchicaya, who expects to train 10,000 potential founders by December across the southern economic corridor.
