Completion Ceremony for the Project for the Improvement of the Port of Bujumbura, Burundi’s Trade Hub
2024.10.23
On October 9, 2024, the completion ceremony for the grant aid-funded Project for the Improvement of the Port of Bujumbura was held in Bujumbura*, the economic capital of Burundi. In attendance from the Burundi side were President Évariste Ndayishimiye of the Republic of Burundi and key ministers, and from the Japan side, Ambassador to Burundi Fukushima Isao, JICA Senior Vice President Ando Naoki, and Chief Representative Shiotsuka Minako of the JICA Rwanda Office (in charge of Burundi).
Located near the center of the African continent, at the northern tip of Lake Tanganyika, Bujumbura Port is the largest in Burundi and the entire lake region. However, much of the port’s infrastructure was constructed before 1960, becoming outdated and, in recent years, leading to difficulties for the port to keep up with increasing cargo volumes driven by the region’s rapid economic growth. This project—which began in 2019—addressed these issues by constructing a container terminal and ship repair facilities, as well as relocating drainage channels, with the aim of promoting trade with neighboring countries, including in the southeastern region of Africa, and reducing import and export transportation costs, while enhancing lake transport safety. Despite two interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project has finally been completed thanks to the unwavering efforts of the Burundian government and other stakeholders, contributing to the country's recovery and reconstruction from domestic conflicts in the 1990s and setting it on a path toward economic development.
During the completion ceremony, President Ndayishimiye conveyed his gratitude for JICA's cooperation in Burundi and affirmed his commitment to further strengthening relations between the two countries.
*The national capital of Burundi is Gitega.
Completion Ceremony
Explaining the equipment
Speech by JICA Senior Vice President Ando
Explanation to President Ndayishimiye
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