Silikin Village, a technology and entrepreneurial hub in Kinshasa, was officially inaugurated on October 10 by President Félix Tshisekedi. The center aims to create a digital entrepreneurship ecosystem that supports members (entrepreneurs) in collaboration with local and international partners. Texaf Digital, digital subsidiary of Texaf, initiated the project. Texaf has been present in DR Congo since 1925.

At the opening ceremony, President Tshisekedi was with several notable figures, including Augustin Kibassa Maliba, the Minister of Post, Telecom, and Digital, and World Bank representative Albert Zeufack. 

"President Tshisekedi has a dream: to see Congolese millionaires emerge. This dream is within reach. Today, in this space, we have people capable of making it come true," said Gérald Croonenberghs, General Manager of Silikin Village. "What we are inaugurating today marks the beginning of a new era," he added.

"This hub is the fruit of a partnership between three key players: the Congolese government, which aims to make digital a vital part of its development program; the World Bank, which prioritizes digital initiatives for the DRC; and Texaf, which recognized early on that the future is digital," said Albert Zeufack.

The new hub covers 6,000 square meters and includes furnished offices, coworking spaces, shared meeting rooms, and an auditorium. Completed at the beginning of the semester, it aims to create an environment that supports entrepreneurship and helps startups launch their businesses effectively.

Services offered include training and incubation programs for startups and international companies looking to establish themselves in the DRC. The project received bank financing of $5.5 million at a fixed interest rate of 7%, repayable over six years. An expansion plan is also underway to increase the workspace to nearly 9,000 square meters before the year ends.

Georges Auréole Bamba