By John Kavyavu and Julia Smith | Chief Operating Officer & Chief Process Officer
Concrete blocks are always in demand in the bustling metropolis of Kinshasa. These are used in both residential and commercial construction projects, of which there are thousands.
Kamat Beton is one of the small and medium enterprise that Pro-Microfinance works with in Kinshasa. Created in 2014, Kamat Beto’s business is to rent concrete mixers out to small and medium size construction projects in Kinshasa. Jean Baptiste Matabishi with his business partner were aware of the increasing demand for concrete blocks in the big city of Kinshasa and had been planning to expand their rental business to start including the production of concrete blocks. This way, their concrete mixing clients could also buy concrete blocks from them.
With a small loan borrowed from PMI branch in Kinshasa, the dream became a reality. Kamat purchased a block making machine, and was able to hire 2 people who help operate the machine, which produces 300-400 blocks per day. With their second loan, the business owners are planning to buy more raw materials and hire 2 more people for the evening shift. Other than the 4 people who will shortly be employed by the new addition to the business, there will be around 8 other people who will increase their income by supplying sands collected from a nearby river to Kamat.
Such small-scale industries can have a much bigger impact than the amount of the loan itself. In an economy like Kinshasa, the creation of employment opportunities can mean the difference between being able to provide for a family and not being able. And creating employment opportunities that themselves create local, small scale production will help wean the country from depending on imported and foreign produced goods, which negatively affect development.
ProMicrofinance’s plan is to start focusing more and more on projects/businesses like this one. Your continued support will help us rebuild business in the Congo, literally block by block. Join us by providing a helping hand today, or let us know how else you would like to get involved!
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