GLH: Can you introduce yourself?
Okana Nsiawi Marien (ONM): I say on behalf of Okana Nsiawi Marien, Project Engineer at Fichtner GmbH (Private limited liability company). This is a consulting firm based in Kinshasa who is studying engineering in different aspects of the field of electricity and energy. He also works in the supervision, control of work during the execution of projects.
GLH: Your assessment of the Forum on Energy that just ended?
ONM: We have a very positive assessment of what has been done. I have identified the framework and presented the opportunities that Rwanda provides for private investors. This visit allows investors to truly feel the reality of the finger. To realize that everything that was presented during the Forum is not fiction, but the concrete, that there really is an opportunity and an opportunity to invest in Rwanda. The Government intends to implement all favorable conditions for investors to come and put money in the country. Which will, – I think, still to revive the economy, create jobs and improve living conditions. The closing of the Forum allows visits by people who followed the different presentations of the achievements and feel the real problems and to understand that indeed the field is ripe for investment in Rwanda.
GLH: Would you tell us the image of Rwanda that you had before you came?
ONM: Before coming, I was told that Rwanda was a beautiful country, where there were many opportunities. But seeing as it gives greater weight. Things are a little better than I hoped.
GLH: Your Enterprise is installed in how many countries?
ONM: Fichtner S.a.r.l. is part of the International Group Fitchner which is based in Germany and several countries. Fitchner is present in Central Africa with operations in the DRC in Kinshasa, particularly, and Congo Brazzaville. And we are also in the search for some markets here in Rwanda.
GLH: What is you plan to actually do here in Rwanda?
ONM: We, we are not an investment company. We, we do studies. So we provide our expertise through studies for development projects. And when projects are being set up, we are working in construction supervision or control for the quality is actually well done.If there are studies which are initiated, we are ready to compete and lead projects. If the work is established, we can bring our expertise in quality control work during their execution.
GLH: Your Enterprise is in Congo – Brazzaville and the DRC. What has been achieved in these two countries that have improved your image?
ONM: I would start with the Congo – Kinshasa. We work with our parent company in rehabilitation projects. Now we work on the rehabilitation of part of the Inga hydroelectric complex: the construction of the second line between Inga and Kinshasa and the rehabilitation of networks of Kinshasa. In Brazzaville where we have many activities currently own, we supervise the rehabilitation of the distribution network in Brazzaville. We supervised the construction of the distribution department of the Central North. We also worked on a project sales engineer. It was a project of installing meters in the city of Brazzaville and its surroundings, revenue enhancement, reducing technical and commercial losses. Currently, we also oversee the construction or expansion of the distribution of a department in Congo – Brazzaville. It’s own projects, and associated with the house to the parent. We supervised the construction of the hydroelectric plant of Mburu and construction of the network linked to the plant which is a network of over 800 km.
GLH: Who asked you to choose the Rwanda among other African countries?
ONM: We are based in Congo Kinshasa. So we want to move first in the region. After Kinshasa, we went to Brazzaville. The time has come for us to go East. Such as Rwanda and offers many opportunities, we look for markets here.
GLH: How many people you employ in Rwanda at the moment?
ONM: We have already started with four people, engineers who have finished university. The problem here is that you can not hire more until we have no markets. If there are markets, we will hire more.