On Tuesday July 27, 2021, the Vice-President of the Republic of Burundi His Excellency Prosper BAZOMBANZA enhanced with his presence the opening ceremonies of the 5th Diaspora Week, 2021 Edition, under the theme “The Contribution of the burundian Diaspora in the implementation of responsible and laborious government’s policies and Programs ”, at the Royal Palace Hotel.
In his welcome speech, the Mayor of the city of Bujumbura, Mr. Jimmy HATUNGIMANA, wished a warm and cordial welcome to all the guests and wished them a good time in Bujumbura. He thanked His Excellency the Vice-President of the Republic of Burundi and other High Authorities who presented themselves in the activities of this Diaspora Week despite their specifications. He also thanked the Government of Burundi through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation for having chosen to hold these activities in the Town Hall of Bujumbura. He added that it is an honor for the economic capital of the country.
In their speeches, the President of the International Diaspora and the Representative of the International Organization for Migration all thanked the Government of Burundi for having organized this week of the Diaspora, 2021Edition because it is an opportunity offered to the members of the Diaspora to visit their dear homeland and investigate ways to contribute to its development.
In his speech the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation His Excellency Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO said that the Government of Burundi has adopted a National Development Plan 2018-2027. He called on all the burundian people, including members of the Diaspora, to take ownership of the said plan and contribute to its implementation.
Note that since July 2014, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation organized a Diaspora Week except in 2019 and 2020 because of the global Corona Virus pandemic. Several projects have been carried out by members of the burundian Diaspora in different sectors of national life and several actions have been carried out to support the Diaspora.
The Diaspora Week is organized every year at the end of July to allow participants to celebrate “Communal Day” scheduled for the first week of August. The Minister Albert SHINGIRO invited members of the Diaspora to massively celebrate this day in their native communities alongside their brothers and sisters. The place of the Diaspora in the development of the country is very remarkable, as evidenced by the provincial and municipal administrators. Their achievements have responded to the concerns of the population in the fields of agriculture and animal husbandry, health, education, infrastructure and others.
