On Wednesday, June 9, 2021, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation H.E Albert SHINGIRO received in audience H.E Mr. Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz Kttan, Minister of State to African Countries Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
At the end of the audience, H.E Albert SHINGIRO said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Burundi have maintained good relations of friendship and cooperation since 1980 and that exchanges between the high personalities of two countries are frequent.
H.E Albert SHINGIRO indicated that he explained to the Minister of State to African Countries Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi that Burundi has a new foreign policy which is based on four pillars namely the attraction of foreign investments, trade between Nations, technology transfer and tourism.
The Minister H.E Albert SHINGIRO invited his Saudi Arabia counterpart to ensure that his country can send several investors to Burundi. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, the country is still virgin in terms of foreign investment.
H.E Albert SHINGIRO said that they discussed further concrete issues, including the state’s plan to build the motorway linking the two capitals of Bujumbura and Gitega. On this project, he informed that H.E Mr. Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz Kttan welcomed this project with interest and asked to rework the project well and send it to the Embassy of Burundi in Riyadh to be examined by the Saudi Arabia Party. Another project presented is the renovation of the King Khaled Hospital in Kamenge. The Saudi Arabia Minister indicated that the Saudi Arabia Government will consider the request of the Government of Burundi and will decide whether to rehabilitate the same hospital or build a new one bearing the name of King Khaled or that of the current King.
H.E Albert SHINGIRO said that they also discussed the issue of migrant workers, these young Burundian ladies who go to the Gulf countries to look for work. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation asked his counterpart to analyze the request of the Government of Burundi to sign an agreement with the Government of Saudi Arabia in order to legally protect these ladies.
In this regard, HE Albert SHINGIRO indicated that his Saudi counterpart promised that during his next visit to Riyadh, they will be able to sign a very specific agreement protecting these young ladies, so that they work legally. He added that after this agreement with Saudi Arabia, he will be able to do so with other Gulf countries.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation said that they also exchanged views on diplomatic issues at the international level, in particular the fight against terrorism, the issue relating to the war in Libya, relations between Iran and Israel, etc …
In closing, H.E Albert SHINGIRO said that he intends to make a visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia before the end of the year, to further strengthen relations with this friendly country.
