GITEGA, January 16th (ABP) – Burundian senators meeting in plenary assembly in Gitega (center of the country) analyzed and passed two bills, on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. The first one concerned the regime of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) of Burundi and the other one on the ratification by Burundi of the convention for the suppression of the illicit seizure of aircraft, signed on December 16, 1970, in The Hague, Holland.
Both sessions were attended by the Minister of Trade, Transport, Industry and Tourism, Marie Chantal Nijimbere who represented the government to present the said bills to senators and provide them with necessary clarifications on certain aspects of those laws.
In relation to the first bill, Minister Nijimbere indicated that its interest is aligned with the National Development Plan (NDP) of Burundi (2018-2027), in its overall goal of transforming the Burundian economy for strong, sustainable, resilient, inclusive growth, creating decent jobs for all, she explained. She added that the same bill will induce the improvement of social well-being as well as the vision of Burundi, an emerging country by 2040 and developed country in 2060.
Furthermore, Minister Nijimbere said that the adoption of the bill constitutes the legal framework for the creation of SEZs which will allow, among other things, the implementation of Burundi’s industrial policy, the diversification of export products and the implementation of import-substitution policies. These SEZs will also allow the establishment of development poles and industrial and agro-industrial growth, the attraction of foreign investments and the development of partnerships with local industries.
Minister Nijimbere continued to disclose that the SEZs will allow the development of employment, particularly that of young people and the implementation of an efficient development framework in terms of logistics, around essential basic infrastructures (ports, roads, railways, ships) and industrial (energy and drinking water projects, telecommunications and services).
Regarding the second bill, Minister Nijimbere said that it is part of the framework of properly combating criminal offences relating to the unlawful seizure of aircraft whose perpetrators directly endanger aviation safety, crews and passengers. Illegal acts of unlawful seizure of aircraft seriously hamper the operation of air services and undermine the confidence of the peoples of the world in the safety of civil aviation.