BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo, October 3, 2025/ — The African Development Bank (AfDB) has taken another step toward strengthening the role of local businesses in the Republic of Congo by offering training and awareness seminars on its procurement procedures.
With more than 100 companies from various sectors added to the Bank’s supplier database, local businesses are now better equipped to compete for significant opportunities at the Bank’s upcoming Annual Meetings in Brazzaville in May 2026.
On 24 September 2025, employees from Congolese firms gathered in Brazzaville to receive practical training on the Bank’s procurement rules, contract management systems, and supplier requirements. The seminar underscored the AfDB’s intent to widen participation and ensure that local businesses are not sidelined in the competition for high-value contracts.
“The main objective of the seminar is to raise awareness among companies operating in the Republic of Congo about the Bank’s rules and procedures. This will help prepare them for contract opportunities with the Bank in the context of the Annual Meetings and even beyond,” said Olivier Beguy, Country Economist at the Bank’s Liaison Office in Congo, speaking on behalf of Léandre Bassolé, the Bank’s Director-General for Central Africa.
The workshop also served to update the Bank’s supplier list, with the addition of over 100 firms offering services across construction, logistics, event management, and consultancy.
For local businesses, being included in this database is a critical step before bidding for service procurement contracts tied to the Annual Meetings. It also opens longer-term avenues for working with AfDB projects beyond 2026.
Despite the Republic of Congo hosting numerous sectors with entrepreneurial potential, the figures reveal the limited participation of local businesses in AfDB procurement to date.
In 2024, the Bank’s institutional procurement reached around $103 million, yet only 0.09 percent of that total went to Congolese companies.
The seminar therefore aimed to reverse this trend by empowering local businesses to meet procurement standards and secure their rightful share of contracts.
Ludovic Ngatsé, Congolese Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Integration, and AfDB Governor for the country, emphasized this goal during his opening remarks: “The Bank’s projects and programmes represent considerable contract volumes, and our collective ambition is for Congolese companies to be able to capture a significant share of them.”
Participants welcomed the initiative as a chance to understand the Bank’s processes more clearly. According to Marcelle Akposso, Head of the Bank’s Institutional Procurement Division, the seminar has already proven effective: “The seminar identified a pool of more than 105 companies with expertise in various sectors. The quality of the companies represented reinforces our belief that we will have competent suppliers for our next Annual Meetings, where their services will be in high demand.”
For local businesses, inclusion in the supplier database signals greater visibility and credibility. It demonstrates their readiness to meet the rigorous standards set by the Bank while also showcasing their role as critical actors in the national economy.
By facilitating this process, the AfDB has created a pathway for Congolese firms to scale their operations, enhance competitiveness, and participate in regional value chains.
The African Development Bank has been active in the Republic of Congo since 1972 and has financed projects totaling $1.27 billion. As of 30 June 2025, its active portfolio in the country included nine sovereign operations valued at approximately $223.3 million, spanning infrastructure, governance, agriculture, and human development.
With the addition of more local businesses to its supplier pool, these projects will likely draw stronger participation from Congolese service providers.
Looking ahead to May 2026, the Annual Meetings are expected to be a pivotal moment for both the AfDB and the Republic of Congo.
For local businesses, the event represents not just a procurement opportunity but also a platform to demonstrate capability, expand networks, and establish long-term relationships with regional and international partners.
By building familiarity with AfDB’s systems now, Congolese firms are positioning themselves for contracts that could boost employment, revenue generation, and economic resilience.
Ultimately, the seminar’s impact reflects a broader vision: empowering local businesses to play a central role in Africa’s development. By equipping firms with knowledge and access, the AfDB is ensuring that procurement opportunities become a tool for inclusive growth rather than an exclusive preserve of foreign players.
For more info: www.AfDB.org
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
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