Burundi

Situated in Central Africa, this landlocked country of approximately 13 million people is one of the world’s poorest nations. A member of the East African Community (EAC), in recent years Burundi has taken steps to improve its political and economic governance, and to provide employment to its young and rapidly growing population beyond the dominant mining and agricultural sectors. The government has particularly focused its efforts on infrastructure development, including power plants, road projects, and port, airport and railway upgrades. However, foreign direct investment (FDI) faces significant deterrents, including an inefficient regulatory environment, bureaucratic barriers and an underdeveloped financial system. Corruption, a low-skilled workforce, and unreliable electricity supply are additional issues.

Today, Burundi continues to rely heavily on aid from bilateral and multilateral donors. Ethnic disputes, attempted coups d’état, and military encroachment on democratic institutions further complicate the situation.