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Brazzaville (Republic of Congo), 31 October 2025 – Eni Congo, together with the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Handicrafts of the Republic of Congo, signed today an important partnership to support the country’s economic growth, under the patronage of the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, with a primary focus on agriculture and entrepreneurial innovation.
The signing took place during the closing ceremony of the 2025 edition of Yasika, the program dedicated to startups and young entrepreneurs promoted by Joule, Eni’s school for enterprise. The event was held in Brazzaville at the presence of the Minister of SMEs Jacqueline Lydia Mikolo, Eni Congo’s Managing Director Andrea Barberi, the startups involved in the program, and representatives of local institutions.
The partnership strengthens and expands the collaboration already established between the two parties, as demonstrated by the success of the Yasika program, which in 2025 involved more than 10 startups and around 25 young entrepreneurs from the Republic of Congo and the neighboring countries. The initiative provided them with high-quality training, mentoring, and development opportunities aimed at fostering the creation of innovative businesses in the fields of the green economy, sustainable agriculture, and green technologies.
Yasika participants stood out for the originality and impact of their proposed solutions. Among them, 4 startups signed contracts with Eni and developed pilot projects in sectors such as plastic waste recycling, geospatial intelligence for agricultural land management, digital platforms for access to farming equipment, and the production of energy-efficient improved cookstove sensors.
“Yasika represents a unique opportunity for young Congolese entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into tangible projects, and the agreement signed today will further strengthen the initiatives implemented, making a concrete contribution to the sustainable and inclusive economic development of the Republic of Congo”, said Andrea Barberi, Managing Director of Eni Congo.
The partnership broadens this vision along two strategic axes. The first concerns the strengthening of the agricultural value chain through the active involvement of local SMEs, by means of training initiatives, facilitation of access to finance, and technical support. The second aims to expand the geographical scope of the Yasika program, which will also be promoted in rural and less urbanized areas of the country, with the goal of including new entrepreneurial talents.
In line with these objectives, the 2026 edition of the program for startups and young entrepreneurs is now officially open. As in the 2025 edition, there will be three key sectors: Agritech, Climate Tech, Energy, and Green Economy. Applications will remain open until 15 January 2026.
With this new phase, the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Handicrafts of the Republic of Congo, Eni Congo, and Eni Joule reaffirm their commitment to creating a dynamic, inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem oriented toward the energy transition, decarbonization, and the enhancement of local resources.
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