BUJUMBURA December 6th (ABP) – Under the high patronage of the Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, the Burundi Development Agency (ADB) ex- (Investment Promotion Agency (API), organizes, in Bujumbura, from December 3 to 4, 2021, the 1st edition of the horticultural fair under the theme “Towards job creation and economic development”.
At the opening of that horticultural fair on Thursday, December 3, 2021, the ADB interim director, Mr. Desire Musharitse said that in Burundi, trade shows that imports are greater than exports. The latter are generally based on coffee, tea and minerals. Those exports are still at a very low level, which is why ADB and experts in the horticultural sector have come together to see how to develop this sector with a view to diversifying export products. It is in that context that this horticultural fair was organized to promote awareness of its products and provide an opportunity for the exchange of ideas in this area. He added that the marketing of the products of this sector requires a lot of means. So, it takes a lot of investors who put together the funds to build up a substantial amount of capital in order to be able to modernize the tools of transformation and conservation. It is also necessary to respect regulations related to international trade and quality standards.
In his opening speech, the permanent secretary at the Ministry in charge of the Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, Mr. Emmanuel Ndorimana, pointed out that the organization of this activity is an opportunity to show the pace already crossed in the horticultural field. It is also an opportunity to wink at investors to turn to this field in order to allow the country to diversify the export products. The government will support it, he promised.
On various stands, one could observe the exhibition of several types of fruit plants, fruits and juices ready to be marketed. These were oranges, tangerines, lemons, mangoes, avocados, pineapples, Japanese plums and others.