GITEGA March 4th (ABP) – The President Evariste Ndayishimiye officially inaugurated the Bank for Investment and Development for Women (BIDF) on Thursday March 3, 2022 in Gitega (central Burundi), a bank built next to the Youth Investment Bank (BIJE).
In his speech, President Evariste Ndayishimiye said that this bank as well as that of the young people were created with the aim of putting the Burundian people to work because, according to him, development is impossible without the participation of the country. It is in this perspective that the Head of State called on BIDF staff to work for the development of the bank so that it can provide employment to other people by creating branches in other countries. other provinces. He warned them that after five years, there will be an assessment to see how far the bank is progressing. According to him, all the staff will be replaced once the results are not satisfactory.
The President also encouraged the staff of the Bank for Investment and Development for Women and the Youth Bank to reach out to businessmen to present the bank’s projects to them so that they can open accounts in this young bank. The Head of State also called on women and girls to come together in associations and cooperatives to benefit from loans easily and pay 7% interest while individuals will pay 14% at most.
The managing director of the BIDF, Mrs. Marie Salomée Ndabahariye indicated that this bank has an initial capital of ten billion Burundian francs. Among this capital, the government of Burundi has invested 15% while 85% is capital invested by all the municipalities in Burundi.
According to ADG Ndabahariye, that bank will support the projects of women united in cooperatives and associations by granting them loans at low interest. It will also support development projects capable of providing jobs for many people, particularly in agriculture, livestock, fishing, industry, crafts, public transport, technology, etc.
Mrs. Ndabahariye also reported that the Women’s Investment and Development Bank will support women in the implementation of their development projects and by organizing training sessions in formulating profitable projects, and so on.
Note that during those ceremonies, there were the first lady of Burundi Angeline Ndayishimiye, the ministers, all the governors, the former first lady Denise Nkurunziza and the representatives of non-governmental organizations including UN Women, UNDP and UNFPA.