PUM Launch Event at the Dutch Embassy in Burundi

Since January 2025 we have re-started our activities in Burundi. This was celebrated during the official launch of the renewed commitment to Burundi took place at the Residence of the Dutch Embassy in Bujumbura, Burundi, on Tuesday 13 May 2025.  Approximately 50 companies and organisations, were invited at the Residence of the Embassy.

The attendees at the launch, were warmly received by Ted Hunink, Deputy Head of Mission / Head of Development Cooperation Burundi, at the Residence of the Dutch Embassy. The gathering brought together entrepreneurs, business leaders and changemakers, eager to collaborate with PUM and explore new avenues for sustainable business success.

The event was opened by Ted Hunink’s welcome address.

“It gives me great pleasure to take this opportunity to welcome you to this ceremony marking the official relaunch of the PUM in Burundi. We say relaunch, because PUM had already been operating in Burundi since 2009, before its activities in Burundi were suspended following the 2015 political crisis.

Some of you may have heard the sad news that the Dutch embassy in Bujumbura will be closing its doors in due course. And you may be wondering: why a launch event when the embassy will close in the future? The good news is that the closure of the embassy will be gradual and will not happen from today to tomorrow. In addition, some Dutch cooperation instruments, such as PUM, can also target countries that do not have a physical Dutch diplomatic presence. So the departure of the embassy does not mean a complete halt to cooperation between our two countries “

The aim of today’s event is therefore to raise awareness and connect with entrepreneurs in Burundi to start collaborating with PUM.

Stronger together and growing together

After his world of welcome Loes Hensing, the country manager for PUM in Burundi, gave an introduction to the PUM organisation, and introduced the team of local representatives in Burundi,  Ange Clarisse Kanyamuneza and Christophe Gahungu.

By sharing knowledge and experience and by fostering connections, PUM experts can contribute to the empowerment of Burundian businesses and build a structurally better future for their communities.

“We believe that PUM has a role to play in supporting many of the young and enthusiastic entrepreneurs we find in Burundi, both men and women “. Together with these entrepreneurs, we are eager to build sustainable businesses, strengthen industries and foster valuable trade connections with the Netherlands.

A powerful partnership for growth

As part of the event Patrick Munezero, the CEO of LifeXpress Burundi gave a vivid recount of his experience with PUM on a training in solar energy for his company LifeXpress. LifeXpress was the first company to benefit from PUM expertise since the beginning of 2025.

The event concluded with a dynamic networking session, where participants exchanged ideas, explored opportunities, and engaged with PUM experts to discuss future projects.

PUM. Together We Grow