The Burundi government this Thursday August 8th 2024 released a statement liberalizing the importation of sugar in the country.
“The purpose of this order is to liberalize the sugar trade on the national territory. The price of locally produced or imported sugar is set according to the cost of production or the cost of importation,” part of the statement read from the joint statement made by the Burundi ministry of finance and of trade.
“All sugar import authorizations with exemptions already granted to sugar importers are canceled. These importers must submit a new application according to the conditions that will be set by the ministries responsible for trade and finance.”
The Burundi government decision to liberalize trade comes at a time when the country has for almost a year experienced sugar shortage countrywide.
Sugar ranks among the most widely consumed, traded, sensitive, and protected commodities worldwide specifically in East Africa. In East Africa most of the imports and export of sugar must be licensed.