Nigerian manufacturers will find in Burundi, massive investment opportunities across several markets through which they can comfortably operate and service the economies of the great lakes region comprising of 10 countries and co-create with the East African Community (EAC) which has 7 independent partner states, ANAMBRA PEOPLE reports.
Following the successful inauguration of the Nigeria Burundi Business Council (NBBC) culminating in the Nigeria – Burundi Business Summit next month, all is now set for the successful hosting of this historic event by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Nigeria to the Republic of Burundi in Bujumbura, His Excellency Elijah Onyeagba PhD.
The Head of the Nigerian Mission in Burundi has declared that Nigerian investors interested in exploring this rare economic opportunity provided by the Summit will gain access to the Great Lakes region comprising of 10 countries in addition to the opportunity to co-create with the East African Community (EAC) which has 7 independent partner states.
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of 7 Partner States which include the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, and the United Republic of Tanzania with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The EAC is home to an estimated population of 300 million, of which over 22% is urban. With a land area of 4.8 million square kilometres and a combined Gross Domestic Product of US$ 240 billion signaling a promising market and positive investment signals for the investors.
In a statement made available on Monday August 8th 2022 to the media by the Nigerian Embassy in Bujumbura, it read ‘’ This Council comprises of representatives across several economic sectors of both countries in Education, Manufacturing, Hospitality, Agro-Processing, Mining, Transport and Logistics. It is charged with the responsibility of helping the Nigerian Embassy in Bujumbura host its maiden edition of the Nigeria – Burundi Business Summit scheduled to take place in the last week of September, 2022 in Bujumbura, with Sir Paul Chukwuma as President and Hon Olivier Suguru as Vice President of the Council.
The Summit will feature relevant economic players in the trade and investment sector such as the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Lagos, Abuja, Enugu and Port-Harcourt in Nigeria.
Also expected to attend the Summit are the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission(NIPC), the Nigerian Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC), Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Burundi (CFCIB), Burundi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria – Burundi Business community, representatives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), among others.”
The Ambassador called on interested investors who wish to take advantage of the vast business opportunities in the East African nation to approach the Nigerian Embassy for registration and participation. It is expected that the Nigeria – Burundi Business Summit will produce tangible results in the areas of job creation and local content development.