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MAKUTANO
If we don't,
who will ?
Makutano is the DRC’s and the economic subregion’s premier business platform. Its strategic importance cannot be overstated.
Only Makutano allows key players to actively accelerate economic transformation, while opening the doors to cross-border partnerships. Through Makutano, the power of the region's collective intelligence is being harnessed for the first time to create robust and sustainable value.
In short, Makutano is an African led response to the economic challenges of the Congo and the sub-region, and a gateway to major international partners.
THE STORY OF A MEETING.
Makutano was born from a woman’s observation. The year was 2015 and the various actors of the economic ecosystem of the Congo and the sub-region still operated in silos. For Nicole Sulu, founder of Makutano The key to freeing the region’s wealth rested on :
- A reconquest of the stakes by the Congolese and their regional neighbors.
- Creating opportunities for dialogue and the sharing of issues.
- Co-writing concrete solutions within an active engagement platform, in order to bridge sectoral, competitive and geographic boundaries and synergise actions. In short, the solution was to be found in holding a "Makutano" meaning meeting and intersection in Swahili.
And so Makutano was born. In need of the energy to create such sweeping change, Sulu turned to a new generation of local leaders. Success was instant.
In June 2016, 150 Congolese leaders met at the Sultani hotel for high level talks. Months later they were joined by 350 more from various sectors around the sub-region. Today, the annual Makutano forum has become the region's premier business event, regularly involving heads of state, investors. This year it has grown to include over 600 key actors and changemakers of the region.
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CEO’s and Directors at the annual Makutano Forum
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Leaders Active Members of Club Makutano
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contracts concluded in 3 years within the network
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editions of the Makutano Forum since 2016
THE IMPACT OF A VISION.
Makutano places African leadership at the centre of the development equation and asks local & regional champions to live up to their responsibility.
Makutano invites the driving forces of the economic ecosystem of the DRC and the sub-region to dialogue. To pool their expertise and knowledge. To forge innovative partnerships. And to define new models for response and action.
Why?
Because Africa is tired of waiting to fulfil its potential.
Because we as Congolese, we as Africans, we as business leaders, heads of state, opinion leaders, entrepreneurs and public authorities have the expertise and resources, needed to create collective wealth. We must play our role, we cannot delegate it. It is our duty to lead, enlighten and co-construct the individual and common successes of our continent.
C’est tout le sens de notre signature de marque :
IF WE DON’T, WHO WILL ? Si nous ne le faisons pas, qui le fera ? Nous, Congolais, Africains, nous, dirigeants d’entreprise, chefs d’état, leaders d’opinion, nous, entrepreneurs et investisseurs.
THE STRENGTH OF A PLACE.
Makutano’s roots and reason for being lies in the DRC. A striking country, in need of a new collective narrative which had to be written by the Congolese themselves in order to serve the common good. This new story was found in its central location. Sharing nine borders with neighbouring countries the DRC occupies a position of immense and untapped hydroelectric potential. Coupled with its agricultural, forestry, mining and human wealth, the Congo is a powerhouse of regional development and integration waiting to shine.
Choosing Kinshasa to host our annual forum reflects our strategic vision for the region.
THE GRAVITAS OF A LEADERSHIP.
Who are the Makutano champions?
They are confirmed leaders and emerging leaders from the private and public sector, civil society, legislators and influencers from the diaspora. They are iconic figures in their industries and / or agents of change. They are active listeners and participate in dialogue designed to discover innovative and pragmatic solutions.
3 FIELDS OF ACTION.
The actions of Makutano are organised around 3 key pillars: Business, Collective Economic Intelligence and Influence.
BUSINESS
Identifying business opportunities and growth drivers, searching for complementary interest and synergies, investment and financing of potential.
INFLUENCE
Networking, informed lobbying, transversal dialogue.
COLLECTIVE ECONOMIC INTELLIGENCE
Sharing of best practice, promotion
of regional & local success models, economic and ecosystem innovation, cutting-edge business strategies, sector insights and monitoring.
