Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
On Tuesday December 12, 2023, at the Best Outlook Hotel, in the economic capital of Bujumbura, the Director General of Bilateral Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Ambassador Ernest Niyokindi in collaboration with Mr. Puneet R. Kundal, Deputy Secretary, Eastern and Southern Africa Division, at the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India moderated the 2nd Political Consultation between Burundi and India.
In his opening speech, Ambassador Ernest Niyokindi warmly welcomed the Indian delegation to Burundi and expressed his deep satisfaction with the cordial and mutually beneficial cooperation existing between the two countries. He said the meeting would serve as a platform to comprehensively review the implementation of the Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding signed between the two countries.
In his speech, Mr. Puneet R. Kundal thanked the Government of Burundi for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to him and his delegation since his arrival in Burundi. He also appreciates the existing friendly and cordial relations between the two countries. He indicated that India will continue to support Burundi in its development needs in the spirit of South-South cooperation.
The two Parties examined and discussed many topics of common interest:: the United Nations Security Council; the Development Cooperation; the economic cooperation, the trade and investment; the Agricultural Cooperation; the renewable energy; the social and humanitarian cooperation (health and education); the Defense and Security Cooperation; the Consular and visa issues; the the Memorandum of Understanding on the Exchange of Tax Information; the New areas of cooperation; the Conduct of deliberations; and the place and date of the next session of consultations.
It was noted that the meeting provided an opportunity for both countries to continue collaborating at multilateral levels, particularly at the United Nations and other multilateral organizations, particularly on issues such as the climate change, the sustainable development and the fight against terrorism, and to support each other in their candidacies within the international organizations.
It has been reported the projects which have been submitted and accepted but which require monitoring, including the project in order to construct a 20 MW to 30 MW hydroelectric power station on the Kaburantwa River which has reached more than 95% completion but those were suspended following the non-payment of the invoice of the executing company by Exim Bank. That was confirmed by a visit that was carried out by both Parties to Kabu 16 after their consultations.
Ambassador Ernest Niyokindi hoped that the work would be completed as soon as possible and handed over to the Government of Burundi.
Both Parties expected that the 2nd Session of the consultations will take place in the Republic of India in 2024, on a date to be determined by both Parties and communicated through the diplomatic channels.
Returning after visiting the Kabu 16 Dam, they closed the day’s activities by signing the Minutes of their convenience.
