Burundi Investment Agency (API) has organized a trade fair since 3 October to promote investment in Burundi through bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
Guests (Marguerite Kamana in the middle) Visiting Stands on 4 October
Clothes, food, telephone company, handcrafted products… these are different products exhibited at different stands in “Palais des Arts” in Bujumbura city center. “We are convinced our products will be known by many clients during this whole week of trade fair. Our aim is to gain greater visibility rather than selling”, said Eric Uwarugira, in charge of stocks in Burundi Manufacture Company. The same view is shared by Innocent Ndayiragije, the director general of “Amajambere” company that produces honey. “During this trade fair, we expect to network and share experience with others”, he said. For Salomé Nibogora, a woman selling handicrafts, this trade fair will expand the market as we currently do not have more clients. “Raw materials are very expensive but we expect to create many contacts for more effective visibility at the end of this trade fair”, she explains.
Masundi Ben Ali, representative of AZAM Bakhresa Company indicated that this trade fair is an opportunity to advertise a wide range of their products made in Burundi to a larger public. However, he said investors operating in Burundi face several challenges including the lack of foreign currencies and non-tariff barriers. “Solutions must be found for investors to come to Burundi given that the latter is a virgin, touristic and attractive country to invest in”, he says.
An opportunity to Display Investment Achievements in Burundi
Didace Ngendakumana, the director of Burundi Investment Agency indicated that this trade fair has been organized to inform the public about different achievements and accomplishments made by manufacturing companies registered in Burundi by API. “Not only is it an opportunity for investors to create partnership in order to promote their companies, but also an occasion to encourage investment and export in Burundi”, he said.
The same view is shared by John M.N. Musajjakawa, Senior Investment Executive in Uganda Investment Authority. He indicated that the Ugandan delegation is in Burundi to look into the possibility for investment.
“We need to share experience with Burundians so that they may come to invest in Uganda. We want to promote investment across EAC. Once we combine efforts, we will certainly develop a big market of products of better quality,” he said.
Marguerite Kamana, Permanent Secretary to the Good Governance Ministry said all economic operators are exhorted to promote their investments through this trade fair to advertise their products made in Burundi. “We must add value to our products to attract potential consumers”, she said.
The trade fair which began on October 3rd will end on October 7th, 2016
Created in 2009, Burundi Investment Agency already registered 8627 companies. Among them, 312 received eligible certificates of the advantages offered by the Investment code. According to the director of Burundi Investment Agency, in terms of their investment, these certified companies represent an amount of BIF 1,200 billion and 15,904 jobs will be created.
IWACU Open Data
