Promote:
Invest in Burundi
A short guide for companies expanding into Burundi: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Burundi at a glance
Population
14.4 million
Population was 14,390,003 people in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Burundi population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$3.36 billion
GDP was US$3.36 billion in 2025, in current United States dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, Burundi GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$234
GDP per person was US$233.8 in 2025, in current United States dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, Burundi GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
4.2%
Real GDP growth was 4.2 percent in 2025, according to the World Bank.
Source: World Bank WDI, Burundi real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
7.6%
Consumer prices rose 7.6 percent over twelve months to September 2026, in the national statistics office index.
Source: INSBU, consumer price index, September 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$67.6 million
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$67.6 million in 2025, in UNCTAD data.
Source: UNCTADstat, FDI flows and stock, Burundi inward (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Burundian franc (BIF).
Source: BRB, monthly bulletin, March 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
The Agence de Développement du Burundi (ADB) replaced the Investment Promotion Agency under the 2021 Investment Code, and handles investment, exports and company registration.
Source: Burundi, Investment Code, Law 1/19, June 2021 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of June 17, 2021
ADB is the entry point and sole contact for investors, and registers companies online; it does not publish how many agencies sit in the one-stop shop.
Source: ADB, vision and missions (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
The Investment Code names no sector reserved for nationals; article 7 puts arms and ammunition, pharmacology and radioactive industry under special regulation.
Source: Burundi, Investment Code, Law 1/19, June 2021 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of June 17, 2021
One special economic zone, Warubondo in Mutimbuzi commune, was created by decree in February 2017.
Source: Burundi, Warubondo special economic zone decree, 2017 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of February 16, 2017
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Burundi
- Register the company, branch or subsidiary on the online platform easybusiness.bi.Agence de Développement du Burundi (ADB)200,000 Burundian francs for a companyOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ADB, company registration procedure (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Register as a taxpayer; the trade information portal says companies do this at ADB.Agence de Développement du Burundi (ADB)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Burundi Trade Information Portal, export procedures (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Apply for the investment eligibility certificate with a business case and the required documents.Agence de Développement du Burundi (ADB)Twenty working days; file fee equal to US$500Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Burundi, Investment Code, Law 1/19, June 2021 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of June 17, 2021
- Get the sector license your activity needs, such as a mining permit or a bank license.Ministère des Ressources Minières, Energétiques, de l'Industrie, du Commerce et du Tourisme (MRMEICT); Banque de la République du Burundi (BRB)Banks: minimum capital of 10 billion Burundian francsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ADB, licenses needed before operating (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 2 more set-up steps
- Arrange entry and residence visas and work permits for foreign staff with ADB support.Agence de Développement du Burundi (ADB)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Burundi, Investment Code, Law 1/19, June 2021 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of June 17, 2021
- Follow the exchange rules for profit transfers and foreign currency payments.Banque de la République du Burundi (BRB)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: BRB, foreign exchange regulation, 28 December 2023 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of December 28, 2023
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with ADB and OBR. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Get advice
Investment and export promotion agency
ADB
Agence de Développement du Burundi
Registers companies, issues investment eligibility certificates and promotes investment and exports.
Visit ADB (opens in a new tab)Source: ADB, vision and missions (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Tax and customs authority
OBR
Office Burundais des Recettes
Issues EAC certificates of origin and tax clearance for exports, and runs the trade information portal and the electronic single window.
Visit OBR (opens in a new tab)Source: Burundi Trade Information Portal, export procedures (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Meet requirements
Central bank
BRB
Banque de la République du Burundi
Sets exchange rules, including export declarations validated by banks and the return of export proceeds.
Visit BRB (opens in a new tab)Source: BRB, foreign exchange regulation, 28 December 2023 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of December 28, 2023
Show 1 more organization
Finance and budget ministry
MFBEN
Ministère des Finances, du Budget et de l'Economie Numérique
Publishes the ministerial orders that apply the annual finance law, which carries tax and customs measures.
Visit MFBEN (opens in a new tab)Source: Finance ministry, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
National chamber of commerce
CFCIB
Chambre Fédérale de Commerce et d'Industrie du Burundi
Represents private-sector business associations and gives members advice, information and training.
Visit CFCIB (opens in a new tab)Source: CFCIB, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Ministry names changing
The trade ministry, MRMEICT, took over mines and energy in August 2025, and the finance ministry's name now includes the digital economy.
What to do: Address documents to the current ministry names shown on their own sites.
Sources: Trade ministry, ministerial handover post, 12 August 2025 (in French) (opens in a new tab); Finance ministry, home page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Annual finance law
The finance ministry has published ministerial orders since August 2026 applying the 2026/2027 finance law, including a surtax on imported beers and other goods.
What to do: Confirm current tax and customs measures with the OBR before you price a contract.
Source: Finance ministry, orders applying the 2026/2027 finance law (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Specially regulated sectors
The Investment Code puts arms and ammunition, pharmacology and radioactive industry under special regulation.
What to do: Ask ADB which rules apply before you start a project in these fields.
Source: Burundi, Investment Code, Law 1/19, June 2021 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Inflation and prices
Twelve-month inflation was 7.6 percent in September 2026, after a 34.0 percent average in 2025, the statistics office and central bank report.
What to do: Test your project budget against price changes before you commit capital.
Sources: INSBU, consumer price index, September 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab); BRB, monthly bulletin, March 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 3 more
Special economic zones
A February 2025 law sets zones up by decree, and the sources found name one zone, Warubondo, created in 2017.
What to do: Ask ADB which zones are open and what each offers before you choose a site.
Sources: Burundi, special economic zones law, 28 February 2025 (in French) (opens in a new tab); Burundi, Warubondo special economic zone decree, 2017 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Currency and settlement
The Investment Code guarantees free transfer of profits after taxes, within exchange control rules, and the central bank rate was 3,013.13 francs per United States dollar on October 30, 2026.
What to do: Confirm transfer procedures with your bank and the central bank before you invest.
Sources: Burundi, Investment Code, Law 1/19, June 2021 (in French) (opens in a new tab); BRB, home page, exchange rate and policy rate (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Investment incentive thresholds
Benefits require at least US$500,000 for foreign investors in Bujumbura city, half that elsewhere, and a project in a priority sector.
What to do: Check the threshold and the sector list with ADB before you apply.
Sources: ADB, eligibility for investment code benefits (in French) (opens in a new tab); Burundi, Investment Code, Law 1/19, June 2021 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Burundi with other countriesSet Burundi beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
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Promote:Burundi is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.