(Ecofin Agency) - Vietnamese telecom operator Viettel has asked the Burundese government its help to implement various projects in the African nation. These include social projects and projects to improve the living standards of local populations.

Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pham Binh Minh, and Burundi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alain Aimé Nyamitwe, discussed the matter on Sept 17, 2017 during an audience granted the latter by the former, on the sidelines of the 17^th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Viettel obtained telecom license to start operating in Burundi since December 2014 but officially launched its services in March 2015. Now, the operator has about two million users, a pool which it expects to increase after it has implemented its social projects.

In addition to telecom-related agreements, Mr. Nyamitwe signed with his Vietnamese counterpart bilateral cooperation agreements, including an agreement to promote and protect investments and a non-double taxation agreement. The two countries also agreed to boost cooperation within regional and international forums.

Muriel Edjo