This article covers the diplomatic, trade and investment relationship between India and Burundi: how the MEA describes the relationship, the Foreign Office Consultations, ministerial and high-level visits, Burundi's participation in the Voice of Global South Summits, and then the goods traded, Indian investment, the trade figures and the business conclaves attended by Burundian leaders. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of April 2026 and reflects the position at that date.

The relationship

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, India and Burundi enjoy cordial and friendly relations. The brief states that the opening of Burundi's Resident Mission in New Delhi in 2009, and progressive interactions between the political leaderships of the two countries, have lent importance and direction to the relationship.

Foreign Office Consultations

The first ever Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and Burundi were held in New Delhi in October 2017. Issues of bilateral, regional and global importance were discussed.

The second FOC was held on 12 December 2023 in Bujumbura. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues, and discussed bilateral development cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, agriculture, renewable energy, social and humanitarian matters, and defence and security.

Ministerial visits from India

The brief records three ministerial visits from India to Burundi:

  • May 2011: Shri Arun Yadav, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, visited Burundi as a Special Envoy of the Prime Minister to invite the President of Burundi to the second India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-II).
  • February 2012: a delegation led by Smt. Preneet Kaur, Minister of State for External Affairs, visited Burundi. A General Cooperation Agreement was signed by the two sides during the visit.
  • July 2015: Shri Sudarshan Bhagat, Minister of State for Rural Development, visited Burundi as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy to extend an invitation to the President and the Foreign Minister for IAFS-III.

High-level visits from Burundi

President Pierre Nkurunziza paid a State Visit to India in September 2012. In October 2015, the First Vice President of Burundi, Gaston Sindimwo, led the Burundian delegation to India to attend IAFS-III, accompanied by the Foreign Minister. On 13 September 2026, President Évariste Ndayishimiye, also Chairperson of the African Union, held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

Other visits from Burundi listed in the brief include:

  • February 2019: Ms. Evelyne Butoyi, Minister of Youth, Posts and ICT, led a delegation to India Telecom 2019 in New Delhi.
  • July 2019: Dr. D. Ndihokubwayo, Minister of Finance, Budget and Economic Development Cooperation, visited India to sign a Line of Credit agreement with EXIM Bank.
  • October 2019: Mr. Come Manirakiza, Minister of Hydralics, Energy, represented Burundi at the 2nd General Assembly of ISA in New Delhi.
  • February 2025: Colonel Barumpishe Jean Marie, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Defence and Veterans Affairs, represented the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs at the 15th Edition of Aero-India, held from 10-14 February 2025 in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Voice of Global South Summits

Burundi has taken part in the three Voice of Global South Summits (VOGSS) hosted by India:

  • The 1st VOGSS was held in virtual mode on 13 January 2023. Hon'ble Nijimbere Marie Chantal, Minister of Commerce, Transport, Industry and Tourism, participated in the Commerce, Trade and Industry Ministers' Session, hosted by Sh. Piyush Goyal, India's Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister.
  • At the 2nd VOGSS on 17 November 2023, Mr. Ndorimana Emmanuel, Assistant to Minister (of Ministerial Rank) and No. 2 of the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, participated in the Environment Ministers' Session.
  • Hon. Audace Niyonzima, Minister of Finance, attended the 3rd edition of the Voice of Global South Summit virtually.

Main items traded

India's exports to Burundi comprise:

  • pharmaceuticals and chemicals
  • machinery and instruments
  • plastic and linoleum products
  • transport equipment
  • rubber manufactured products

The main items India imports from Burundi include non-electrical machinery, iron and steel.

Indian investment and companies

The brief states that during the last few years Indian companies have invested in coffee plantation, manufacture of synthetic water tanks, distilleries, computer hardware, hardware stores and paints.

Bajaj and TVS have local dealers in Burundi for the sale of two-wheeler motorcycles and three-wheeler auto-rickshaws. The brief states that their products are well received in Burundi.

Trade figures

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, the trade table covers 2018-2019 to 2024-2025. The table gives no unit for its figures. It shows India's exports to Burundi, imports from Burundi, total trade and the trade balance as follows:

  • 2018-2019: exports 48.35, imports 4.55, total trade 52.90, trade balance 43.80
  • 2019-2020: exports 58.47, imports 3.83, total trade 62.29, trade balance 54.64
  • 2020-2021: exports 64.02, imports 0.07, total trade 64.09, trade balance 63.95
  • 2021-2022: exports 60.51, imports 0.04, total trade 60.55, trade balance 60.47
  • 2022-2023: exports 42.75, imports 0.39, total trade 43.14, trade balance 42.36
  • 2023-2024: exports 38.37, imports 0.00, total trade 38.37, trade balance 38.37
  • 2024-2025: exports 29.37, imports 1.22, total trade 30.59, trade balance 28.15

The table's growth rows show export growth of -23.45% and total trade growth of -20.27% in 2024-2025. For 2023-2024 the import growth figure is given as NIL.

Business conclaves

Burundian leaders have attended several business conclaves in New Delhi:

  • March 2013: Second Vice President Mr. Gervais Rufyikiri led a business delegation to the 9th CII Exim Bank Conclave.
  • March 2018: Major General Ndayishimiye Evariste, Secretary General of the ruling party of Burundi, CNDD-FDD, attended the 13th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave.
  • August 2024: Mr. Prosper Bazombanza, Vice President of the Republic of Burundi, attended the 19th edition of the CII India-Africa Business Conclave, held in New Delhi from 20-22 August 2024.

A multi-sectoral CII business delegation accompanied the Minister of State for External Affairs, Smt. Preneet Kaur, on her visit to Burundi in February 2012.

The brief does not describe any trade agreement or business council between the two countries.