Burundi to ensure that women participate to uplift economy

In an attempt to upscale Burundi’s agriculture industry, which accounts for over 90% of the country’s exports, the East African nation has developed a plan to train female workers in garment manufacturing.

Cultivating cotton and other raw materials is profitable for Burundi and it hopes this plan of equipping more workers with skills needed to produce goods using such resources, can mutually benefit the people and the economy.

Established by the Federation of Women in Business for Eastern and Southern Africa (FEMCOM) and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) Spanish Fund, the project aims to support the women in Burundi’s textile industry.

The women of Burundi play a major role in its economy. 90% of which is supported by its rich agriculture industry and stands for 55.2% of the workforce.

The Business Incubator for African Women Entrepreneurs (BIAWE) has facilitated training opportunities through the project that will help perfect the manufacturing of cloth from the raw material cultivated across the country.

BIAWE, project coordinator Darlene Hakizimana, said that the female entrepreneurs will be equipped with business skills and technical training to utilize industrial sewing machines to manufacture creative and innovative textile products that are well-designed.

He believes that this project will create strategic partnerships with different institutions in the nation and beyond. He further adds that the partnership will enable trainees to get in touch with off-trackers and a market for their products.