India-Burundi Relations After a long period of internecine war in ...

India-Burundi Relations
After a long period of internecine war in Burundi, stability returned in this small East
African country in 1998 with the signing of Arusha Agreement among the belligerents.
Subsequently, the EAC member countries revoked their sanctions and made Burundi one
of the members of EAC in May 2007. India’s bilateral relations with Burundi started to
grow since then. It got a fillip with the opening of their resident mission in Delhi in 2009 and
following interactions between political leadership of the two countries.
High-Level Visits
Mr. Barnabe Mbonimpa, Minister of Public Health visited India from 7-11 December
2005 to attend the GAVI 3 rd Partner’s Meeting held at New Delhi. Second Vice-President
H.E. (Mrs.) Marine Barampama visited India in October 2006 and was the guest of honour
at the CII Conclave.
Recent interactions include the meetings of MOS (PK) with the Burundian Foreign Minister
in Addis Ababa in January 2011 on the sidelines of the AU Summit and meeting of our
EAM with his counterpart in February 2011 on the sidelines of the LDC Ministerial
Conference in New Delhi. Hon. Shri Arun Yadav, MoS for Agriculture and Food
Processing Industries visited Burundi from 10-12 May, 2011 as Special Envoy of the Prime
Minister for inviting the President of Burundi to attend the India-Africa Forum Summit-II at
Addis Ababa. On the sidelines of the 2 nd India-Africa Forum Summit held in Addis Ababa
in May 2011, Hon’ble Prime Minister met the Burundian President.
Bilateral Cooperation
Following the first India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-I) in New Delhi in April 2008,
Burundi was nominated by the African Union to host the India-Africa Institute of
Educational Planning and Administration (IAIEPA). An agreement between the National
University of Education Planning & Administration (NUEPA), the implementing agency on
behalf of GoI, and Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research, Government of
Burundi for establishment of IAIEPA was signed at Bujumbura on 14 th October, 2011. The
core function of the IAIEPA would be capacity building in Africa. NUEPA would establish,
operate and manage the IAIEPA for the first three years. Thereafter, the institution is
expected to become self-sustaining through a business plan to be jointly created. The
academic programmes of IAIEPA are proposed to be planned and organised in two
phases. The first phase of the academic programme is scheduled to commence during
the third quarter of 2012. The scope and coverage of the academic programmes will be
expanded during the second phase, expected to commence in 2014.
Subsequent to Hon’ble Prime Minister’s announcement regarding establishment of
a large number of capacity building institutions in Africa during the Second India-Africa
Forum Summit held in Addis Ababa in May, 2011, a GoI proposal for establishment of
cluster bio-mass gasifier system in Burundi was accepted by the Government of Burundi.
The project is expected to provide sustainable electricity solutions in villages at a very low
cost through small biomass gasifier systems based on sustainable business model by
entrepreneurs. A team of experts from the implementing agency in India is expected to
visit Burundi soon to undertake feasibility studies for the project.

Government of India has extended a Line of Credit of US$ 80 million for the 20MW
Kabu hydro-electric project. In this regard, an agreement between the EXIM Bank of India
and the Government of Burundi was signed in May, 2011. After completion of the residual
formalities, the line of credit would be made operational soon.
Following IAFS-I held in April 2008, Burundi was also nominated by the African
Union as one of the countries which would host the India-Africa Vocational Training
Centre. A draft agreement between the National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC)
and Government of Burundi has been forwarded to the Burundian authorities for their
concurrence/comments.
The Pan African e-Network Project has been installed in Bujumbura and has been
functioning successfully. The project was inaugurated by EAM on 16 th August, 2010.
India has offered to set-up an Information Technology Centre in Burundi. An MoU
for setting up the center was signed in April 2010 in Bujumbura by our former Ambassador
and the Burundian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Preparations for
setting up the Information Technology Centre of Excellence are underway.
India provided consignments of medicines to Burundi in June and July 2010 for
distribution in refugee camps in the country.
Training
In the HRD front, India offers 3 scholarships to Burundi under ICCR scholarship
schemes. Under the ITEC/SCAAP Programme, India has offered 15 slots to Burundi
during the year 2011-12. In addition to this, during the 2 nd India-Africa Forum Summit held
in Addis Ababa in May 2011, our Prime Minister announced an additional 15 slots to be
allocated to Burundi under the ITEC/SCAAP programme during the year 2011-12, taking
the total to 30 slots.
Bilateral trade
The main items that India exports to Burundi are pharmaceuticals and chemicals,
machinery and instruments, plastic and linoleum products, transport equipments, rubber
manufactured products and chemicals. The main items that India imports from Burundi
are non-electrical machinery, iron and steel.
Bilateral trade figures during the period 2005-2009 are :
YEAR Exports
(US$
mn)
2008-2009
(April-Dec)
% Growth Imports
(US$ mn)
% Growth Total % Growth
10.24 27.20 0.71 -61.62 10.95 10.60
2007-2008 8.05 1.64 1.85 9.90 25.00

2006-2007 7.92 -26.19 0.00 -87.75 7.92 -26.46
2005-2006 10.73 48.14 0.04 -91.53 10.77 40.42
Indian community in Burundi
There are around 300 PIOs and Indian nationals in Burundi, most of them traders
and businessmen. The Burundian government as well as the people appreciate their role
in the country’s economy and treat them well. Some PIOs enjoy high status in the country
and have direct access to senior officials in the Burundian government.
January 2012