Recovery of FPI Claims: Government Launches Major Debt Collection Drive

Recovery of FPI Claims: Government Launches Major Debt Collection Drive

The Congolese government has begun a major initiative to recover US$350 million in outstanding claims owed to the Industrial Promotion Fund (FPI). The matter was discussed during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa in Kinshasa on Tuesday, July 21. The government aims to clean up the FPI’s portfolio and channel the recovered funds back into the country’s industrialization efforts. The meeting brought together several sector ministers, the FPI’s General Management, and representatives of specialized government services.

To achieve this objective, the government will rely on the judiciary and other competent public institutions. Prime Minister Suminwa instructed the relevant stakeholders to establish a coordinated and rigorous mechanism to identify defaulting debtors, trace the funds, and initiate recovery procedures, including legal action where necessary. The support of the courts and specialized services is expected to accelerate the processing of cases and ensure full traceability of the recovery operations. The government’s message is clear: zero tolerance for unpaid debts.

Before taking strict enforcement measures, the government is giving defaulting debtors a reasonable grace period to fulfill their financial obligations. Once that deadline expires, legal sanctions and recovery measures will be enforced.

The recovery of the US$350 million is considered essential to restoring the FPI’s capacity to support economic development. The recovered funds will be used to finance new industrial projects, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and create jobs. The government has pledged to provide regular updates on the progress of the recovery campaign and the amounts collected, in order to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of these public resources.

Patrick LOKONI