Kinshasa, July 1st, 2025 (CPA). – A plea for the insurance of the building sites in the Democratic Republic of Congo was launched on Tuesday by the representative of the Financial Insurance Company during a lunch debate organised on Tuesday by the Buildings and Public Works Club (BTP) and the Chambers of Trades and Crafts (CMA), CPA has learnt from this structure. ‘We provide worksite insurance or what is known as ‘all-risk worksite’ insurance. But in DRC, it is not compulsory. And yet it should be. That’s why we are organising this lunchtime debate to launch our advocacy campaign’, has declared Xavier Deny, representative of the Financial Insurance Company.
According to him, no serious construction project can afford to exclude risk guarantees – whether for technical defects, faulty workmanship, delays or accidents. However, local practice is still largely informal or superficial when it comes to insurance in the building and public works sector. Mr Deny has also mentioned the existence of specific professional insurance policies, covering errors of design, execution or supervision on building sites, which can have serious financial and human consequences.
But for these tools to become standards rather than options, Xavier Denys is calling for a change in the regulatory framework, with a more active role for the State and professional bodies. ‘It’s time for worksite insurance to become a legal requirement, as is the case in most structured countries,’ he has indicated. Beyond the insurance aspect, he has advocated for insurers and bankers to be involved in project design at a much earlier stage. In his view, their technical and financial insight can prevent many risks and help to make investments more viable. ‘Building is not just about pouring concrete. It’s about anticipating, securing and guaranteeing durability. This also involves insurers and financial institutions,’ has concluded Mr Denys. This speech opens up an essential avenue for the professionalization of the sector: building safely also means building responsibly. CPA/