Burundi Trade Information Portal Launched

The Burundi Revenue Office, together with the International Trade Centre (ITC) launched the Burundi Trade Information Portal on 27 July 2021 in Bujumbura, bringing the number of Trade Portals in the EAC region to five.

Lack of access to information on trade formalities and inconsistent regulations are among the main obstacles encountered by SMEs in conducting cross-border trade. Businesses struggle to comply with requirements that are unclear and end up covering unforeseen costs.

The portal will help ensure transparency, harmonize trade procedures at the regional level and promote a favourable business environment for traders and small and medium-sized enterprises in Burundi and within the East African region.

SMEs can now access official and reliable information on cross-border trade procedures online through the portal. They can benefit from up-to-date and free information, which will help them meet all administrative and procedural requirements in a resource efficient manner.

Through MARKUP, ITC provided technical assistance to the Burundi Revenue Office (OBR) to set up and operationalise the portal. A range of products and more than 50 procedures have already been documented on the online platform.