Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), hosted a seminar last week on the Makayabu Ambassade, a type of salted fish imported from Norway. Held on November 27 and 28, the session specifically aimed to have more of this fish imported into the African country. A Norwegian delegation was present. 

The Europeans said one of the major issues preventing the import was a high number of taxes, adding that this fostered smuggling. Many market players reportedly route their imports through neighboring Congo Brazzaville, where import conditions are more favorable.

According to Norwegian statistics, Congo Brazzaville, with a population of less than 6.7 million (World Bank, 2023), has imported almost 11,234 tonnes of fish since the beginning of 2024. In contrast, the DRC, with a higher consumption rate and a potential market exceeding 100 million inhabitants, has imported only 1,540 tonnes.

The DRC government is currently working to implement a decree signed in September 2024 that classifies salted fish as a staple product, aiming to reduce taxes to achieve lower market prices. However, this move may not make Norwegian salted fish more competitive. Since 2023, the average export price (excluding taxes) for Norwegian fish has reached $4.6 per kilogram, marking the second consecutive increase and the highest level since 2021 when it was $2.96 per kilogram. This price increase coincides with a 24.6% depreciation of the Congolese franc against the US dollar. Although prices fell in 2024, Norwegian fish still costs at least $4 per kilogram on the market, which is high for a population where most live on less than $2 a day.

In this context, a viral video features a woman claiming that the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock has allegedly signed a contract with the Norwegian Embassy in the DRC to promote the import of Makayabu from Norway. The communication services of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock responded by stating that "no contract has been signed between the Norwegian Embassy and the Democratic Republic of Congo concerning the marketing of salted fish, commonly known as Makayabu Embassy," as reported by the Congolese Press Agency.

In the challenging situation, the DRC government recently disclosed plans to promote local fishing and aquaculture; an initiative Norway is ready to back. "We believe there is room for both: the fish trade and increasing domestic production in the DRC. I am convinced that the fishing and aquaculture sector can contribute to economic development and improve food security," said Ambassador Odd Molster at the seminar. Opportunities exist to enhance local players' expertise, improve cold chain logistics, and boost fry and fish feed production.

Georges Aureole Bamba