BUJUMBURA November 14th (ABP) – The Minister of East African Community Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture Ambassador Ezéchiel Nibigira proceeded on Friday, November 11, 2022 in Bujumbura, to the official launch of the activities of the agency of the investment bank for young people (BIJE). That activity was carried out as recommended by the President of the Republic of Burundi Evariste Ndayishimiye, to open BIJE agencies in several provinces of the country to approach young people who need them for the realization of their development projects.
In his speech, the minister responsible for youth first congratulated the leaders of the BIJE for the step taken. He also indicated that the BIJE agency in Bujumbura Town Hall will allow young people from the municipality of Bujumbura and surrounding provinces including Cibitoke, Bubanza, Rumonge, Bujumbura, and other clients to have BIJE services. without traveling long distances as was the case before when BIJE was in Gitega only. He asked BIJE officials to continue to open other branches in the different provinces of the country.
The Minister of Youth also asked the leaders of the BIJE and all its staff, not to wait for customers in the offices, but to approach its customers including youth and others wherever they are. He also specified that the vision of the government of Burundi is that in 5 years, the BIJE will be able to be competitive with other commercial banks which are in Burundi, explaining that the latter has the advantage of working with young people who are numerous in the country. He ended his speech by noting that his ministry will spare no effort to support BIJE’s projects.
Speaking, the managing director of BIJE Mr. Niyuhire Sixte promised him that the opening of other BIJE branches in other provinces will soon continue. He took this opportunity to ask the youth in particular and the Burundian population in general, to properly develop their development projects to be financed by the BIJE. Beneficiaries of loans including cooperatives and associations are invited to follow what they have learned during capacity building granted by BIJE to avoid losses. The latter are also invited to repay the loans in time so that the BIJE can develop and continue to support the projects of young people.
The representative of young people funded by the BIJE, on behalf of other young people, welcomed the initiatives of the government of Burundi, including the creation of the BIJE, specifying that the financing of development projects allows young people to develop themselves and create jobs for other young people.
He asked the BIJE to continue to supervise them even being on the ground to avoid working while losing. He asked other young people who are still afraid to dare to develop development projects and apply for loans from the BIJE, testifying that a well-developed and well-framed project saves gains.