Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
On Thursday July 11, 2024, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, Mr Ferdinand Bashikako joined the authorities of the French Embassy and the French people residing in Burundi, in the celebration ceremonies of French national holiday.
During the ceremonies, the French Ambassador His Excellency Mr Jérémie BLIN thanked the guests and indicated that he is happy to welcome them to the French residence to celebrate the July 14th day, the French national holiday which commemorates both the storming of the Bastille on July 14th, 1789 and the Federation Day of July 14, 1790.
Mr Jérémie BLIN wished success to the Burundian athletes who qualified for the Olympic Games and who will represent Burundi in athletics, swimming and judo. He also expressed his gratitude as the bilateral partnership continues to strengthen in this Olympic year.
In his speech, the French Ambassador announced his next definitive departure at the end of his mandate in Burundi. He also highlighted the results of achievements within the framework of bilateral cooperation.
France has been, through the French Development Agency (AFD), for several years, a key partner of Burundi in the field of education.
In collaboration with the World Food Program (WFP), France has carried out certain actions to promote the development of school canteens in Burundi. According to Ambassador Jérémie BLIN, France wishes to extend this partnership in the field of basic education by extending the vocational training through the establishment of a regional vocational training center in the province of Cankuzo. He also informed his guests that France also supports the granting of scholarships to Burundian students.
Regarding the field of Health, the Ambassador of France to Burundi indicated that cooperation is well underway thanks to the Amagara Yacu project, which supports the national reference laboratory, the national blood transfusion center and training. paramedical personnel. The French Embassy is considering a follow-up to that great project.
His Excellency Mr Jérémie BLIN also spoke about the France’s support for Civil Society and in the cultural field.
As part of the Francophonie, the French Ambassador launched a project a few weeks ago to strengthen the employability, professional integration and entrepreneurship of young Burundians through better mastery of the French language. That comes at an opportune time since France will host the 19th Francophonie summit on October 4 and 5.
Note that, as part of multilateral cooperation, France, via the French Development Agency (AFD), is alongside the World Bank and the European Union to finance the universal access to the electricity program. The hope is to sign the financing agreement with the Minister of Finance in the coming days and the main expected results of the project are the rehabilitation of the electricity distribution network in Bujumbura and the extension of lines in the interior of the country. .
In his speech, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation,Ferdinand Bashikako, sent his warm and hearty congratulations to the French Ambassador His Excellency Mr Jérémie BLIN, to the French Government which he represents in Burundi as well as all his compatriots. He congratulated the French Ambassador for having accomplished his mission brilliantly as evidenced by the results of his stay in Burundi, in his diplomatic post. He added by expressing the pleasure he felt in working with the French Embassy to defend and advance the common cause: that of maintaining and strengthening relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries and he added: expresses his wishes for happiness and success in his future functions