US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1671

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001671 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EB FOR CHARLES FORD, EB/CBA FOR DENNIS WINSTEAD, AF FOR ADA 
ADLER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT, AODE, BEXP, ECON, EINV 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY KINSHASA RESPONSE TO "DEVELOPING A 
COMMERCIAL PLATFORM AT NON-FCS POSTS" 
 
REF: STATE 174107 
 
1. Summary. Embassy Kinshasa appreciates the opportunity to 
respond to reftel requesting comments and suggestions on 
developing a commercial platform at non-FCS posts. The 
Democratic Republic of Congo is currently emerging from a 
decade of economic distress, and commercial activity is 
slowly restarting. Hence, Embassy Kinshasa is in a unique 
position to implement changes in collaboration with FCS. 
Post's current situation is characterized by ad hoc contact 
with its regional FCS representative to respond to 
trade/business inquiries and FCS requests. Planning will be 
important due to the renascent nature of the commercial 
portfolio at Post. Embassy Kinshasa does not currently have a 
well coordinated business facilitation program beyond BuyUSA, 
Gold Key, and case-by-case replies to trade and investment 
inquiries. End Summary. 
 
ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT SITUATION 
 
2. The commercial portfolio at Embassy Kinshasa is currently 
shared between two FSOs and one FSN. The FSN has primary 
responsibility for daily maintenance of the portfolio and 
contact with FCS-Nairobi. At present, the primary services 
requested from Embassy Kinshasa are supplier or distributor 
searches, operational business information for the DRC, 
business advocacy (e.g. intervening in investment disputes or 
conflicts with elements of the GDRC), supporting the 
infrequent trade delegations (usually led by the Corporate 
Council on Africa), and occassionally, formal DoC programs 
such as BuyUSA and Gold Key. Embassy has previously used BFIF 
funds to actualize BuyUSA informational programs and other 
trade related activities. Post is also currently beginning to 
work closely with OPIC to obtain GDRC agreement for several 
political risk insurance applications. Embassy Kinshasa hopes 
that regularization of work with the GDRC on investment 
related issues such as OPIC will help to facilitate further 
investment dialogue and re-acclamate the GDRC to Western 
business practices. 
 
3. Resource allocation is currently not a serious issue at 
Post due to the limited activities of the commercial 
portfolio. However, Embassy Kinshasa is concerned that those 
funds which are available are not adequately used due to lack 
of information. Post FSN commented that an account dedicated 
to commercial activities for Embassy Kinshasa exists at 
FCS-Nairobi, however, Post's access to information about this 
account is limited. These funds could be used for trade 
promotion or business education activities in the DRC. 
 
4. Training opportunities for FSOs and FSNs conducted at the 
regional level would be of interest. The economic section of 
Embassy Kinshasa has a section chief and two first-tour 
officers as direct-hire Americans. The section chief and one 
first-tour officer manage the commercial portfolio with one 
of three FSNs. Educational opportunities regarding the 
functioning of the FCS and/or DoC programs would be of great 
utility. Access to and training for DoC databases and 
intranet would aid in research and program development. 
 
5. Increased cross-agency consultation is important to 
Embassy Kinshasa. A reliable link to DoC databases and 
FCS-Nairobi would assist in quickly and reliably responding 
to commercial inquiries. Embassy Kinshasa does not have 
access to either the "Business Facilitation Instant Messaging 
System" or DoC databases. Access to either of those channels 
and/or the creation of a Francophone interlocutor at 
FCS-Nairobi would be of great assistance. 
 
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PLANNING PROCESSES 
 
6. Embassy Kinshasa currently has comments on operational 
level planning. Of key importance to Post is the availability 
of an FCS interlocutor who is fluent in French and 
understands Francophone business practices. Post's commercial 
FSN commented that when FCS-Abidjan was responsible for 
Kinshasa, collaboration was significantly easier because of 
the absence of linguistic challenges and due to the better 
understanding of the Francophone Africa business environment. 
Either the addition of a Francophone interlocutor at 
FCS-Nairobi or a relocation of Kinshasa in regional 
responsibilities would be helpful. 
 
7. Regional planning and objectives: Post would be interested 
in an annual regional forum for commercial program planning 
that would include members of economic sections at non-FCS 
posts. This would facilitate communication and help reorient 
Posts' commercial programs to overarching policy goals. 
 
BUSINESS FACILITATION PROGRAMS 
 
8. Post is currently analysing the development of a 
commercial platform to adapt to the changing economic 
environment in the DRC. The economic section is currently 
testing the development of monthly sector reporting and of an 
electronic business database to facilitate responses to trade 
inquiries. Occasional instructions or training from FCS 
sector and program specialist would aid in providing improved 
market research and service delivery. This will help Post 
reach beyond case-by-case reporting and occassional program 
activities. 
 
MEECE