BUJUMBURA, February 21st (ABP) – As part of the consolidation of good relations of friendship and cooperation between Burundi and Japan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Albert Shingiro and the Japanese Ambassador to Burundi, Isao Fukushima, signed and exchanged on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, in Bujumbura, the notes on a food donation of Japanese rice and on the project to improve the equipment of the facilities of the Imbo Rice Development Company (SRDI), a check on the site by ABP has revealed.
On that occasion, Minister Shingiro said that the project to improve the equipment of the facilities of the rice mill is worth slightly more than 4,200,000 US dollars, approximately 13 billion BIF. It aims to ensure the improvement of rice growing in Burundi by increasing the quantities of milled rice of superior quality, Shingiro specified. It will span over a 3-year period, he added. The project includes technical cooperation and the supply of equipment to the Imbo Rice Development Company (SRDI) and ISABU.
The second note, according to Minister Shingiro, related to a food donation of Japanese rice, worth slightly more than 2,200,000 US dollars, approximately 7 billion BIF. It intervenes within the framework of the implementation of the food assistance programme that Japan continues to grant to Burundi, with a view to promoting economic and social development, in accordance with the convention on food assistance signed in London on April 25, 2012, Shingiro said.
According to him, bilateral relations between Burundi and Japan date back to 1963, just after its independence. Since that year, he stressed, Japan has contributed constantly and significantly to the economic and social development of Burundi.
However, in all areas, the list of which is far from being exhaustive, Shingiro added, Japanese cooperation is accompanied by technical assistance on site and abroad, particularly in Japan. In addition, there are many other multifaceted and multidimensional donations and assistance in both the bilateral and multilateral frameworks, he said.
These donations will contribute to improving the living conditions of citizens and combating food insecurity in Burundi. For this, Minister Shingiro said, the government of Burundi is committed to sparing no effort to ensure that the projects it has just signed and those in progress are a total success like the previous programmes.
For this, he assured, there will be regular and close monitoring to ensure that the implementation of these projects takes place according to the rules drawn up by the two parties.
Minister Shingiro reiterated, at the same time, his request for an independent JICA office in Bujumbura, with a view to local cooperation instead of depending on offices based in other capitals of the sub-region.
For his part, the Japanese ambassador to Burundi indicated that JICA technical cooperation has been underway since 2023. This will enable the know-how transfer in post-harvest rice processing. The combination of these two projects, the ambassador said, will produce synergy effects and contribute to developing rice production in Burundi. He revealed that to further strengthen bilateral relations, they have appointed the first-ever Honorary Consul of Japan to Bujumbura, in the person of Mr. Medard Muzaneza.