The President of the Republic , His Excellency Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE continued his activities on Thursday, 17 December 2020, at Lake Tanganyika Club Hotel where he enhanced the ceremonies launching the third edition of the industrial fair organized by the Association of Industries of Burundi under the theme: “Industry is an essential factor of economic development”.

The Minister of Trade, Transport, Industry and Tourism, the General Secretary of the East African Community the Representative of Trade Mark East Africa and that of the Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Burundi, the senior officials of the Presidency of the Republic and members of the diplomatic and consular corps accredited in Burundi equally took part in those ceremonies.

In his address, the Representative of the Association of Industries of Burundi, Honorable Olivier SUGURU said that this Industrial Fair is periodically organized to show that Burundian industry exists and actively participates in the Burundian economic development by creating jobs, increasing household incomes and contributing to poverty reduction. “We reaffirm that the Burundian industry is there even if it needs to improve its visibility”, he said.

The representative of the Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Burundi (CFCIB) also encouraged the organization of such an event and pointed out that this 3rd fair combines the useful with the pleasant since it intertwines a Business Forum on the margins of which is an exhibition of the industries of Burundi and those of the East African Community and the DRC.

For the Representative of Trade Mark East Africa, who financed this third edition, commerce and industry remain the vital engine that will fuel Burundi’s economy even in this period of the Covid19 pandemic.
“Without industry, there is almost no development”, said the Secretary General of the East African Community. He also indicated that well-planned industries will contribute to reducing unemployment and indeed increasing the household income of the East African Community.

His Excellency Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE, in his speech, made it clear that the country cannot develop without industrialization and commercialization. “We have started a fight against poverty. Then, all stakeholders, among others, economic operators must take part in this fight”, he said.

The Head of State also called on public sector industries to improve the quality of their products to make them competitive in the sub-region and around the world. He also assured the economic operators that the Burundian government will spare no effort to popularize the policy of revitalization of the industrial sector.

The ceremonies were closed by a visit to the stands by the President of the Republic.