BUJUMBURA June 2nd (ABP) – The Prime Minister of the Republic of Burundi, Mr. Alain Guillaume Bunyoni, proceeded on Tuesday June 1, 2021 at the festival ground in front of the Intwari stadium, to the official launch of the 4th edition of the “Made in Burundi” fair and the business week.
The Prime Minister said in his speech that the responsible and hard-working government has put forward economic development so that no Burundian remains in poverty. He added that to get to that stage, government and private entrepreneurs must work closely together to increase production through transformation of local production because together anything is possible, he said.
He also pointed out that the best way to live is to increase agricultural production and its transformation in order to boost the country’s economy and create jobs for Burundians. According to Mr. Bunyoni, the theme chosen this year is “To increase job creation and private businesses by promoting products made in Burundi”. He pointed out that this fair of products made in Burundi is an opportunity to self-assess the step taken in increasing agricultural production and processing agricultural products.
It is also the way to introduce Burundians to the products of different processing companies in order to show Burundians that some imported products resemble those processed in Burundi. He added that no country can develop without surplus production for export. To that end, the country brings in foreign currency instead of spending it on importation.
The Prime Minister appreciated the participation of companies processing different products, but deplored that agribusiness processing companies need improvement because they are still few in number. He called on Burundian and foreign entrepreneurs to invest in that area and create jobs in order to end poverty in our country.
He asked the processors to do timely research to have admirable products. Farmers are recommended to work hard to increase production so that processing companies have the necessary raw materials and develop the country economically.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Transport, Industry and Tourism, Mr. Jérémie Banigwaninzigo, reported that the activities of the kind started in 2017 and this is the 4th edition because, in 2020, the activities have not taken place.
According to Mr. Banigwaninzigo, the ministry organizes such activities to give different processors and farmers the opportunity to exchange knowledge and share experiences. It is also an opportunity to bring to the attention of the public what entrepreneurs do through agricultural production. He said private and public companies across the country have responded massively to the fair, and more than 100 stands are occupied.
On behalf of the Minister of Trade, Transport, Industry and Tourism, Mr. Banigwaninzigo asked Burundians not to underestimate locally produced products but rather to give value to those products and consume them to develop the country’s economy.
Note that the fair “made in Burundi” and the business week will last ten days. They began on May 28, 2021 and will end on June 6, 2021.