The Republic of Burundi is a landlocked country in the African Great Lakes region of Southeast Africa.
During the colonial period most large companies were owned and run by Europeans, and operated under concessions from the colonial government. After independence in 1962, the state took over operations of several of the companies. Subsequently the state founded a number of state-owned companies to handle specific sectors of the economy, such as sugar, cotton, textiles, cement, brewing and so on. Later, the state sold part or all of their stake in these companies, but retained the right to control the products or services they offered, and to set prices.[citation needed]
Notable firms
editThis list includes notable companies with primary headquarters located in the country. The industry and sector follow the Industry Classification Benchmark taxonomy. Organizations which have ceased operations are included and noted as defunct.
Name | Industry | Sector | Headquarters | Founded | Notes | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Afra Airways | Consumer services | Airlines | Bujumbura | 2016 | P | A | |
African Mining Burundi | Mining | Gold | Butihinda | 2018 | Public-private. Defunct in 2021 | P | D |
Africell Burundi | Telecommunications | Mobile services | Bujumbura | 2000 | Closed in 2015 | P | D |
Afritextile | Consumer goods | Textiles | Bujumbura | 2010 | P | A | |
Agence de Location du Matériel | Transport | Road equipment | 2001 | Merged in 2019 | P | D | |
Air Burundi | Consumer services | Airlines | Bujumbura | 1971 | State airline, defunct 2009 | S | D |
ARNOLAC | Transport | Merchant shipping | Bujumbura | 1969 | P | A | |
Bancobu | Financials | Banks | Bujumbura | 1960 | P | A | |
Bank of the Republic of Burundi | Financials | Banks | Bujumbura | 1966 | Central bank | S | A |
Banque de commerce et de développement | Financials | Banks | Bujumbura | 1999 | State owned, defunct 2004 | S | D |
Banque de Gestion et de Financement | Financials | Banks | Bujumbura | 1996 | P | A | |
BATRALAC | Transport | Cargo shipping | Bujumbura | 1988 | P | A | |
Belgo-African Bank of Burundi | Financials | Banks | 1949 | Defunct 1988 | P | D | |
BeTV | Consumer services | Television | Bujumbura | 2017 | P | A | |
Brarudi Brewery | Consumer goods | Brewers | Bujumbura | 1955 | Brewery | P | A |
Bujumbura Credit Bank | Finance | Banks | Bujumbura | 1964 | Commercial bank | P | A |
Burundi Airlines | Consumer services | Airlines | Bujumbura | 2021 | P | A | |
Burundi Backbone System | Telecommunications | Telecommunications Services | Bujumbura | 2010 | P | A | |
Burundi Cement Company | Industrials | Cement | Cibitoke | 2008 | P | A | |
Burundi Musongati Mining | Basic Materials | Nickel mining | Musongati | 2014 | Public-private partnership. Revoked in 2022 | P | D |
Burundi Tea Office | Consumer goods | Tea | Bujumbura | 1971 | S | A | |
Burundi Tobacco Company | Consumer goods | Tobacco | Bujumbura | 1979 | P | A | |
Burundi National Radio and Television | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Bujumbura | 1975 | State media | S | A |
Burundian Bank for Commerce and Investment | Financial services | Banking | Bujumbura | 1988 | Public-private | S | A |
CADEBU | Finance | Savings and loans | Bujumbura | 1964 | Failed in 1992 | S | D |
CAMEBU | Health care | Medicine and other supplies | Bujumbura | 2000 | S | A | |
CAMOFI | Finance | Development bank | Bujumbura | 1977 | State owned, defunct in 1998 | S | D |
CECM (Burundi) | Finance | Microcredit | Bujumbura | 1995 | P | A | |
Centre Burundais de l'Internet | Telecommunications | Internet access | Bujumbura | 1999 | P | A | |
City Connexion Airlines | Consumer services | Airlines | Bujumbura | 1998 | Airline, defunct 2000 | P | D |
COFIDE | Financial | Microfinance | Ngozi | 2000 | P | A | |
COGERCO | Textile Products | Cotton | Bujumbura | 1947 | S | A | |
COMEBU | Mining | Coltan | Kabarore | 1987 | P | A | |
COOPEC | Finance | Microfinance | 1984 | Generic name for many small banks | P | A | |
COSPEC | Finance | Microfinance | Cibitoke Province | 2001 | P | A | |
COTEBU | Consumer goods | Textiles | Bujumbura | 1978 | Defunct 2006 | S | D |
CRDB Bank Burundi | Financials | Banks | Bujumbura | 2012 | P | A | |
Econet Wireless Burundi | Telecommunications | Mobile services | Bujumbura | 2009 | P | A | |
FinBank Burundi | Financials | Banks | Bujumbura | 2002 | Commercial bank | P | A |
FOMI | Chemicals | Fertilizers | Mutimbuzi | 2019 | P | A | |
Global Port Services Burundi | Transport | Port Management | Port of Bujumbura | 2012 | Majority government-owned | S | A |
Imbo Regional Development Company | Consumer goods | Rice, cotton etc, | 1973 | S | A | ||
Interbank Burundi | Financials | Banks | Bujumbura | 1993 | Commercial bank | P | A |
Interpetrol | Energy | Petrol | Bujumbura | 1990s | P | A | |
Hôtel Source du Nil | Consumer services | Hotels | Bujumbura | 1979 | State-owned | S | A |
Laboratoire Nationale du Bâtiment et des Travaux Publics | Industrials | Engineering and Contracting Services | Bujumbura | 1982 | Merged in 2019 | S | D |
Lacell SU Burundi | Telecommunications | Mobile service | Bujumbura | 2008 | Defunct in 2022 | P | D |
Loterie Nationale du Burundi | Consumer services | Gambling | Bujumbura | 1989 | S | A | |
LOVINCO | Consumer goods | Blankets | Bujumbura | 1952 | Defunct in 2004 | P | D |
Lumitel | Telecommunications | Mobile services | Bujumbura | 2013 | P | A | |
Kaze Green Economy | Consumer goods | Charcoal | Bujumbura | 2017 | P | A | |
KCB Bank Burundi Limited | Financials | Banks | Bujumbura | 2012 | Commercial bank | P | A |
Meridien Bank Burundi | Financials | Banks | Bujumbura | 1988 | Defunct in 1995 | P | D |
National Bank for Economic Development | Finance | Banking | Bujumbura | 1967 | P | A | |
National Pharmaceutical Office | Consumer goods | Medicine | 1980 | S | D | ||
Office des Transports du Burundi | Transport | Buses | 1985 | State owned | S | D | |
Office Pharmaceutique Vétérinaire | Consumer Staples | Veterinary products | 1986 | State owned | S | D | |
Onatel Burundi | Telecommunications | Telecommunications Services | Bujumbura | 1978 | State owned | S | A |
ONATOUR | Energy | Peat | Bujumbura | 1977 | State owned | S | A |
OTRACO | Transport | Buses, vehicle inspection | Bujumbura | State owned | S | A | |
Public Real Estate Company | Industrials | Construction | 1979 | State owned, defunct | S | D | |
Rafina | Consumer Staples | Food Products | Bujumbura | 1963 | Cottonseed oil producer | P | A |
Rainbow Mining Burundi | Mining | Rare earths | Bujumbura | 2015 | Defunct 2021 | P | D |
REGIDESO Burundi | Utilities | Multi-utilities | Bujumbura | 1962 | Power and water | S | A |
Régie Nationale des Postes | Industrials | Delivery services | Bujumbura | 1991 | Postal services | P | A |
Royal Air Burundi | Consumer services | Airlines | Bujumbura | 1962 | Airline, defunct 1963 | P | D |
Savonor | Consumer products | Soap, oil | Bujumbura | 1970 | Hygiene, food and cosmetic products | P | A |
SEP Burundi | Energy | Petrol storage | Bujumbura | 1967 | P | A | |
Socabu | Financials | Insurance | Bujumbura | 1977 | P | A | |
SODECO | Consumer products | Coffee | Bujumbura | 1991 | Public-private, state over 80% | S | A |
SOGEAB | Consumer staples | Abattoir | Bujumbura | 2010 | P | A | |
SOPEBU | Energy | Petrol import and distribution | Bujumbura | 2024 | S | A | |
SOSUMO | Consumer goods | Sugar | Gihofi | 1982 | S | A | |
Twitezimbere Microfinance | Financial | Microfinance | Bujumbura | 2013 | S | A | |
Tanganyika Mining Burundi | Basic Materials | Gold Mining | Gihofi | 2017 | Public-private partnership | P | A |
U-COM Burundi | Telecommunications | Mobile services | Bujumbura | 1985 | P | A | |
Union Commerciale d'Assurances et de Réassurance | Financial services | Insurance | Bujumbura | 1986 | P | A | |
Verundi | Consumer goods | Glass bottles | Bujumbura | State-owned, defunct in 1993 | S | D | |
Women's Investment and Development Bank | Financials | Banking | Gitega | 2022 | S | A |