Business

Burundi’s revenue authority on Monday launched the implementation phase of a new integrated digital platform designed to allow online declaration and payment of taxes and duties, a move officials say will modernize revenue collection and align the country with regional trends in public finance management. The Burundian Revenue Office, known by its French acronym...

So-called “frontier market” economies, long viewed as the next wave of global growth engines, have largely failed to realize their economic potential over the past decade, according to a new World Bank study that points to slowing investment, rising debt burdens and weak financial market development. The report finds that average investment growth per...

The global economy is proving more resilient than expected despite persistent trade tensions and policy uncertainty, with growth projected to remain broadly steady through 2027, according to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report released Tuesday. The World Bank forecasts global growth of 2.6% in 2026, before edging up to 2.7% in 2027,...

Burundian officials on Tuesday formally launched a five‑year Tourism Marketing Plan designed to boost international arrivals, strengthen tourism products and raise the East African nation’s profile as a safe and welcoming destination.  The plan, covering 2025‑2029, was unveiled by Christine Niragira, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Mining Resources, Energy, Industry, Trade and Tourism.

Africa’s youth population is expanding rapidly, with nearly 500 million people expected to reach working age by 2035, intensifying the need for large-scale job creation across the continent. Employment will be central to determining whether this demographic shift becomes a catalyst for growth or a source of instability. For millions of young Africans, access...

Mobile money and electronic banking services have expanded across Burundi in recent years, but most Burundians continue to rely on cash, deterred by high transaction fees, limited digital access and lingering mistrust of electronic payment systems, economists and financial analysts say. Despite growing mobile phone ownership and efforts by banks and telecom operators to...

Developing countries paid $741 billion more in external debt service than they received in new financing between 2022 and 2024, marking the largest net outflow in at least five decades, according to the World Bank’s International Debt Report released Wednesday. Despite the pressure, many low- and middle-income countries secured short-term relief in 2024 as...

KAMPALA — Women traders across East Africa continue to face harassment, abuse and exploitation at border crossings, forcing many to abandon official posts for unsafe, informal routes, a report presented Tuesday to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) shows. Presenting the findings in Kampala, EALA Women Caucus Chairperson Ann Itto said fear of mistreatment...

East African private sector leaders on Friday urged partner states to demonstrate stronger political will to eliminate non-tariff barriers and accelerate intra-regional trade, as business executives and regional officials convened for the EABC CEOs–EAC Secretary General meeting in Bujumbura. Representatives from Burundi’s private sector including MIRA Steel and Roofings, FOMI, Seed Trade Company and...

President Evariste Ndayishimiye on Friday called for greater transparency and patriotism in Burundi’s mining industry, urging operators to comply fully with national laws as the government seeks to strengthen oversight and scale production of the country’s mineral resources. Speaking at a Nov. 14 press conference, Ndayishimiye presented findings from a 100-day monitoring initiative he...