BUJUMBURA, 6th September (ABP) – The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Transport and Industry, Mrs. Christine Nibigira, on Thursday, September 5, 2024, opened the 6th edition of the industrial exhibition. The latter was organized under the theme: “A green and exporting industry: a social commitment and an opportunity for decent jobs for youth and women in Burundi”, check on the site by Abp has revealed.
In her speech, Mrs. Nibigira said that Burundi has just adopted the vision of “emerging country in 2040 and developed in 2060”, from which the ministry responsible for industry, is committed to supporting the industrial sector with a view to creating a prosperous, dynamic and competitive industry capable of taking full advantage of the benefits of its integration into the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Eastern Community African (EAC).
According to her, the implementation of green industry will be done through the development and integration of proven methods and practices to reduce pollution in all sectors and increase the production of goods and services, which are affordable, appropriate and environmentally friendly.
She also noted that the green export industry will thus protect communities, vital ecosystems and the global climate against the intensification of environmental risks and the scarcity of natural resources. Thus, that situation will in a way promote production in large quantities and in strict compliance with quality standards, aiming above all for export to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the AfCFTA and especially the EAC.
In her perspective, industry valorises local raw materials, creates jobs, grants the right of entry into competition on local, regional and international markets, and, what is more, the entry of foreign exchange through the export of manufactured products. To all this must be added the improvement in the standard of social living and the increase in the contribution of the industrial sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
To do that, Mrs. Nibigira encouraged Burundian industrialists to develop and enhance local natural resources as a priority for substantial added value. That will allow Burundi to improve the competitiveness of Made in Burundi products and then increase the volume of its exports and foreign exchange earnings, she explained.
Mrs. Nibigira promised that the Burundian government will spare no effort to support the industrial sector, while specifying that many initiatives in that direction have already been initiated.
That is how she invited all Burundians, especially industrialists, each one as far as he or she is concerned, to make a lot of efforts so that Burundian industry can contribute to the expectation of the national vision.