A Small and Medium Enterprises service providing center established at Kamenge Artisans Production Center was launched by H.E. Madam Marie Chantal Nijembre, Minister of Commerce, Transport, Industry and Tourism on the 4th of November 2022. In the Launching ceremony, ALLPI delegation composed of Mr. Ghebregziabher Ghebremedhin programmes Coordinator and Professor Mekonnen Hailemariam Advisor to the Executive Director attended the launching ceremony following the invitation of the honorable Minister Madam Marie Chantal Nijembre.
H.E. in her speech hailed the establishment of the center which is expected to contribute to the transformation process of the leather sector in Burundi. She reiterated government’s commitment to support the leather sector in general and in making the incubation center workable in particular. She gave her guidance on how the incubation center will be managed. She commended ALLPI’s support to the leather sector in Burundi citing the facilitation of the establishment of the Kamenge Incubation center as one of the collaborations between Burundi and the ALLPI. She thanked ALLPI for all the support to the leather sector in general and coming to attend the launching of the incubation center in particular. She assured the delegates that her ministry will work to strengthen further the partnership with the ALLPI. Further she assured that the government of Burundi will honor its commitment to ALLPI.
Mr. Ghebregziabher Ghebremedhin representing the Executive Director of ALLPI in his speech thanked the government of Burundi in general and the Ministry in particular for the continuous support rendered to ALLPI activities. He also expressed ALLPI’s gratitude for the ministry for inviting ALLPI to attend the launching ceremony. He reminded the participants that Burundi is one of the founding countries who established ALLPI and joined ALLPI in the year 2006. He mentioned some of the intervention made by ALLPI geared towards supporting the leather sector in Burundi. In concluding his speech, Mr. Ghebremedhin assured to H.E. and the stakeholders that ALLPI will work continue to work closely to strengthen further ALLPI’s collaboration with Burundi. He also assured the SMEs that ALLPI’s commitment to work with the ministry and all the stakeholders to make the center, a center of excellence that supports the SMEs to flourish.
After the welcome speeches, H.E cut the ribbon and toured the facility accompanied by the representatives of the mayor of Bujumbura, ALLPI and the other guests.
The launching ceremony attracted large Media coverages and broadcasting that included: Tv, Radio and Newspapers.
