BUJUMBURA, November 15th (ABP) – The first lady of the Republic and founder of the “Bonne Action – Umugiraneza –” foundation, Mrs. Angeline Ndayishimiye, received in audience on Monday, November 13, 2023 in Bujumbura, a Japanese delegation led by the chairperson of the Asian, Pacific and African Women’s Economic Association (APA), Mrs. Fukuyo Nakamori.
At the end of the audience, the first lady Ndayishimiye declared to the press that their discussions focused on support for the New Rice for Africa project and other subjects of common interest, as part of the follow-up to implementing the recommendations of the Asia-Pacific-Africa Women’s Economic Summit, held in November 2022 in Tokyo.
Mrs. Ndayishimiye also indicated that they discussed the implementation of the New rice for Africa project to improve rice production in Burundi. The said project, which begins with the current month, will last three years, with the probability of being renewed, she said.
Mrs. Ndayishimiye recalled that from the conception of that project, the Government of Japan had sent agricultural experts in 2022 to work together with those from the Burundian ministry in charge of agriculture. She also indicated that the delegation will send yet another team of experts to continue to build the capacities of Burundians in the field of rice growing.
The first lady of the Republic of Burundi also reported that they discussed the school feeding program that she initiated in certain schools. The delegation will therefore have the opportunity to visit those schools and install drinking water taps there, she said.
She further indicated that this delegation promised to connect a school with the school feeding program in Burundi with another with the same program in Japan so that the two schools create friendly relations.