About Us

CFCIB - La Chambre Fédérale de Commerce et d'Industrie du Burundi

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At the time of its foundation in 1923, the Association bore the name of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Occupied Belgian Territories and of the District of Kivu. It brought together, in fact, on a free basis, economic operators ie settlers, traders, industrialists from Rwanda, Urundi (Burundi) and the current province of Kivu. Its members assigned to the Chamber an exclusively corporatist role of defending the interests of its members.

In 1943, the economic operators of Kivu and Rwanda-Urundi decided to form two separate organizations. Thus was born the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Rwanda-Urundi. It still had a corporatist orientation and its composition remained essentially European.
Rwanda and Burundi decided to put an end to their economic union in 1964. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Burundi was then set up. But already in the mid-1970s began to emerge a class of national traders and industrialists. They decided to form an Association of National Economic Operators.

This new Chamber and the Old merged in 1980 to give birth to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Burundi new version, at the request of the Public Authorities. It associated for the first time within it and in its governing bodies Nationals and Foreigners of Burundi. The collaboration between this new institution and the Public Authorities became closer even if the Chamber remained under private law and kept its autonomy. the Chamber of Commerce and Industry decided to widen the field of its interest and the range of its interventions by including within it and for the first time small traders, farmers, craftsmen to provide supervision. Hence its previous name of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and Crafts of Burundi.

In 1989, the CCIB adopted new statutes allowing it to carry out its mission of promoting and supervising the Burundian private sector with greater efficiency. The socio-political crisis that hit Burundi from October 1993 heavily affected the Private Sector. To counter the dispersion of energy and to be more efficient, the Organizations of Private Sector Professionals have decided to set up an umbrella organization which they have named Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Burundi, CFCIB in acronym. The CFCIB has adopted new statutes and new bodies since April 2010 until today.

iSOKO is a digital trade platform designed to empower women and youth entrepreneurs by providing access to markets, trade information, and business management tools. Launched by TradeMark Africa in partnership with the CFCIB, iSOKO makes it easier for entrepreneurs to connect with customers, expand their businesses, and take advantage of cross-border trade opportunities across East and Central Africa.

A digitally connected Africa where SMEs thrive through inclusive, sustainable, and seamless cross-border trade.

To grow Africa's SME-driven economy by building a unified digital ecosystem that enables information and market access, empowers women and youth, and facilitates trusted, cross-border trade.

What iSOKO Offers:

• Marketplace – List products and services, connect with buyers, and complete transactions online.
• Trade Information – Stay updated with market prices, business opportunities, regulatory guidelines, and cross-border trade requirements.
• Business Tools – Manage sales, expenses, and inventory with built-in bookkeeping features.