GITEGA, Burundi, March 25, 2024, /African Media Agency/-The Managing Director of the African Development Bank for East Africa, Nnenna Nwabufo completed, on March 21, 2024, a four-day official visit to Burundi , where she discussed with the highest authorities of the country on the main future interventions of the institution, in particular within the framework of the new Country Strategy Document (CSP 2024-2028).
Ms. Nwabufo, who arrived in Bujumbura on March 18, was accompanied by several experts from the Bank. During her dialogue mission, she met in particular with President Évariste Ndayishimiye, the Prime Minister and head of government, Gervais Ndirakobuca, as well as the Minister of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Audace Niyonzima, who is also Governor of the African Development Bank for Burundi.
The mission of the Director General for East Africa comes at a time when Burundi has just adopted a long-term strategic vision, structured around a national development plan for a strong economic recovery with a view to the structural transformation of the country.
Ms. Nwabufo reiterated the Bank’s firm desire to support Burundi’s operational priorities within the framework of the new CSP 2024-2028, currently being prepared, in collaboration with other development partners. She assured the Burundian authorities of the Bank’s support for the agricultural compact, defined during the Dakar 2 Summit held in January 2023 in Senegal, indicating that the institution was currently preparing a transformative agricultural project in support of the agricultural modernization program. Burundian. Ms. Nwabufo clarified that the participation of other development partners was essential for the full and successful implementation of the compact.
Ms. Nwabufo inquired regarding the progress made in the implementation of the agricultural compact aimed at ensuring the food security of Burundians. The agricultural compact relies on the development of agricultural value chains for a profound transformation of subsistence agriculture into market agriculture intended to feed Burundians.
The country’s authorities assured the Bank Group delegation of their firm desire to conduct the policies and reforms necessary to modernize Burundian agriculture and make it the basis of strong economic growth that benefits the entire population. , including the most vulnerable. They also expressed their gratitude to the regional director for the grant agreement relating to the construction of the railway, long awaited by the Burundians, which will connect Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Burundian authorities also thanked the Bank for its support for agricultural projects and many other sectors of the country’s socio-economic life.
Ms. Nwabufo attended the restitution workshop of the Country Strategy Document (CSP 2019-2023) and discussion on the main areas of intervention for the 2024-2028 agenda. In addition to the Minister of Finance, seven sectoral ministers (agriculture, infrastructure, transport and trade, education, youth, external relations, information and communication technologies) as well as technical and financial partners from Burundi participated in this led workshop. by the Prime Minister.
Gervais Ndirakobuca and Nnenna Nwabufo attended the signing ceremonies of the grant agreement of 100 million US dollars for the implementation of phase 2 of the Tanzania-Burundi-DR Congo Joint Railway Project (Tanzania-Burundi section), between the government of Burundi represented by the Minister of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Audace Niyonzima, and the head of the Bank’s country office in Burundi, Pascal Yembiline. Construction work on the railway will begin before the end of the year.
During her stay, Ms. Nnenna Nwabufo also paid a courtesy visit to the Burundian First Lady, Angélique Ndayishimiye, 2023 laureate of the United Nations Population Prize. She encouraged her for her involvement in improving the living conditions of the Burundian population through her initiatives in the fields of health and education, in particular the promotion of a quality school canteen.
Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) for the African Development Bank.
Source : African Media Agency (AMA)
2024-03-25 11:02:11
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