Burundi Trade Information Portal launched
(Geneva, Bujumbura) Burundi Revenue Office launched the Burundi Trade Information Portal in Bujumbura today.
The Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning had assigned the Burundi Revenue Office as the lead agency to establish Burundi’s Trade Information Portal in 2019.
The online Burundi Trade Portal will help ensure transparency, harmonize trade procedures at the regional level and promote a favourable business environment for traders and small and medium-sized enterprises in Burundi and within the East African region.
Users can access official and reliable information on cross-border trade procedures online through the portal. Businesses will benefit from up-to-date and free information in order to meet all administrative and procedural requirements in a resource efficient manner.
The portal will also support the efforts of the government of Burundi to improve transparency of trade procedures and to fulfil its obligations under Article 1.2 of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement.
Lack of access to information on trade formalities and inconsistent regulations are among the main obstacles encountered by small and medium-sized enterprises in conducting cross-border trade. Too often, businesses struggle to comply with requirements that are unclear and must absorb unforeseen costs.
The International Trade Centre provided technical assistance to Burundi Revenue Office for setting up the portal. A range of products and more than 50 procedures have already been documented on the online platform. The Burundi Trade Portal, accessible at https://info.commerce.bi/, is another portal in the region along with existing portals in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania and will be instrumental in strengthening regional integration and economic development of the East African region.
The Burundi Trade Portal was established with financial support from the European Union under the EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP) implemented by ITC and other partners within the East African Community.
Gilbert Nizigama, National Coordinator Burundi Trade Portal, said, “Transparency and predictability in cross-border trade can only be achieved through quick and easy access to complete and accurate information in one place.” –
Rajesh Aggarwal, Chief Trade Facilitation Policy for Business at ITC said, “The Burundi trade portal will empower Burundian traders and especially SMEs to tap into the opportunities of international trade and contribute to the country’s economic development.” –
About MARKUP - The European Union (EU) - East African Community (EAC) Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP) is a regional trade development initiative, which aims to address both the supply side and market access constraints of selected key export-oriented sectors. MARKUP aims to increase exports of agribusiness and horticultural products and promote regional integration and access to the European market by addressing specific challenges that small and medium enterprises, trade and investment support institutions and policy-makers face in accessing regional and EU export markets. Funded by the EU, the programme is implemented by the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), ITC, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and other national partners.
About ITC - The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information, visit http://www.intracen.org/
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