BUJUMBURA September 10th (ABP) – The President of the Republic of Burundi, Mr. Evariste Ndayishimiye proceeded Thursday, September 9, 2021, to the official launch of the activities of the modernization project of the port of Bujumbura, a check on the site by ABP has disclosed.
President Ndayishimiye specified in his speech for the occasion that production, processing and marketing constitute an essential chain for the development of the country. He added that without the transport infrastructure, that chain cannot exist.
That is the role of the port of Bujumbura that they want to rehabilitate in order to modernize it.
Mr. Ndayishimiye also indicated that the launch of the work of the above-mentioned project marks a step forward towards the socio-economic development of the country. He added that Lake Tanganyika in addition to offering us a wonderful place for entertainment, it is also a cord that binds Burundi to other countries like the DRC, Tanzania and Zambia by developing in a significant way. maritime transport. Lake Tanganyika will serve more as a very effective link with the port of Mpurungu and will improve trade between Burundi and the countries bordering Lake Tanganyika which will open up Burundi by connecting it to the country of the South African region and even to the ocean.
President Ndayishimiye also signified that this port of Bujumbura will boost the Burundian economy which has experienced shocks following the repetitive crises that Burundi has experienced in its history.
According to the President of Burundi, that project comes at a time when the country is developing trade relations with countries in the region. He took the opportunity to point out that the government of Burundi recognizes the unwavering support and solidarity with the Burundians that Japan has given to Burundi.
He recommended that the Burundians take advantage of the modernization of the port by working so as to have the products to export to contribute to the development of the country. He also pointed out the development project of construction of the railway which will leave Tanzania to arrive at Kindu in the DRC via Gitega and Bujumbura with the rehabilitation of the port, Bujumbura will become the real economic capital and a place of trade especially since Burundi is in the middle of Africa.
He specified that in this project is registered the road which will join the port to the RN1, trade route and this is an added value in the facilitation of trade.
Mrs. Capitoline Niyonizigiye, the minister responsible for transport underlined that the modernization project of the port of Bujumbura will be implemented by the Japanese international cooperation agency (JICA) and the works to be carried out are the construction of the site. naval; construction of the container terminal; the deviation of the Buyenzi canal and the dredging of the harbor basin.
She added that the implementation of the project will allow the port of Bujumbura to process the high amount of goods and reduce the transport costs while making lake transport more efficient.
Note that after the launch of the modernization works of the port of Bujumbura, the Head of State visited a cargo boat under construction with a dimension of 68m / 12 intended for the transport of goods. That boat under construction is located at the Kiringi site in Kabezi commune and that work began on June 18, 2021.