Burundi Businesses Say Shortage of Dollars Is Hurting Imports
- Companies paying surging black-market rates, lobby group says
- Central bank favors fuel, medicine imports for dollar supply
This article is for subscribers only.
A shortage of foreign currency in Burundi is starting to disrupt businesses and forcing companies to delay imports from neighboring East African countries, the head of a local commerce lobby group said.
Central-bank supplies of dollars are proving inadequate, compelling companies into the black market, where the cost of greenbacks -- when they are available -- has jumped by about 25 percent in a fortnight, said Cyriaque Ndayishimiye, leader of the Burundi Traders Union.