Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
As part of its efforts to promote Burundi’s brand image, its cultural identity and the Government’s efforts to improve the well-being of the Burundian people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation organized a Diplomatic Week 2025, from June 27 to 28, 2025, for the Heads of Diplomatic and Consular Missions and representatives of international and regional organizations, under the theme ‘’Fruitful partnership for an emerging Burundi: economic diplomacy, the driving force behind sustainable and inclusive development’’.
In his address, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Mr. Ferdinand Bashikako, who represented the Minister in these activities pointed out that since 2014, the Ministry has been organizing an annual Diplomatic Week to which the entire Diplomatic and Consular Corps as well as Representatives of International and Regional Organizations are invited. This activity is organized as part of the strengthening of communication with Burundi’s various development partners, and the latter offers participants a special moment to exchange views openly and in a relaxed atmosphere on national, regional and international issues of common interest.
This year’s 2025 edition is in line with the National Development Cooperation Strategy (SNCD) adopted in August 2023, which aims for sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth for all Burundians. This Strategy is itself aligned with the revised National Development Plan, as well as with the national vision of ‘’Burundi as an emerging country by 2040 and a developed country by 2060,’’ more specifically in its fifth pillar dedicated to fruitful partnership. For him, the implementation of this noble vision is already underway, as witnessed by the contribution of certain development partners.
Given that this year’s event takes place in a context marked by major institutional changes, notably the new administrative division which now provides for 5 provinces and 42 communes as opposed to 18 provinces and 118 communes previously, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation invited development partners to adapt their programs and redefine their areas of intervention to ensure an equitable geographical distribution of actions with a view to inclusion and social justice.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation ended his speech by pointing out that 2025 has been declared a reference year for the implementation of the Vision ‘’Burundi Emerging Country by 2040 and Developed Country by 2060’’, while keeping in mind that the diplomatic week intends to highlight Burundi’s decisive march towards achieving this noble vision through the five pillars of economic diplomacy.