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China Eximbank provides $32.6 million loan for Digital Television Migration Project (Linked to Record ID#56831, #57618, and #62521)
| Funder | Export-Import Bank of China (China Eximbank) |
|---|---|
| Recipient Organization | Government of Burundi |
| Country | Burundi |
| Start Date | Jun 01, 2017 |
| End Date | Apr 15, 2030 |
| Duration | 4,701 days |
| Number of Grantees | 1 |
| Roles | Recipient |
| Data Source | AidData Chinese Aid |
| Grant ID | 56756 |
Grant Description
China Eximbank provides $32.6 million loan for Digital Television Migration Project On April 9, 2014, the Government of Burundi signed a commercial contract with Chinese company Star Times Software Technology Company Limited Group for the construction of a digital television network.
Then, on June 1, 2017, China Eximbank and the Government of Burundi signed a $32.6 million government concessional loan (GCL) agreement [CHINA EXIMBANK GCL 2016 No. (33)TOTAL NO. (603)] for the Digital Television Migration Project. The GCL was ratified by Burundi’s legislature on August 14, 2017.
The Government of Burundi on-lent the proceeds of the loan to Société de Télédiffusion Numérique au Burundi (STNB). The loan's principal amount outstanding was RMB 219,724,000 as of 2022.
STNB — or Burundi Digital Television Corporation — is a joint venture of Star Times Group (60% equity stake) and the Government of Burundi represented by Radio Television Nationale du Burundi (40% equity stake).
STNB is responsible for constructing the digital television network and managing it for 25-years, after which point the network will become a public asset. The revenue generated by STNB is expected to be used to repay the China Eximbank loan.
In August 2023, StarTimes Group and the Government of Burundi renegotiated the ownership in STNB, resulting in Burundi's equity stake increasing to 45% and StarTimes's stake decreasing to 55%. The Council of Ministers recommended that the contract be reviewed every 5-years. This project entered implementation on December 19, 2016, and it was completed on May 12, 2020.
The official launch of STNB took place on June 15, 2024.
Staff Comments
- This project is also known as the Migration to Digital Television Broadcasting Project. The Chinese project title is 建的布隆迪广播电视数字化整转项目 or 布隆迪实施的数字化电视整转项目. The French project title is projet de migration vers la radiodiffusion télévisuelle numérique au Burundi.
- SAIS-CARI records the face value of the loan as $13 million and the interest rate as 2.5%. However, AidData relies on the face value ($32.6 million) and interest rate (2%) reported by the Government of Burundi and Xinhua News Agency.
- Given that the loan was issued as a GCL, it was almost certainly denominated in RMB. However, the RMB face value of the original loan commitment is unknown. This issue warrants further investigation.
- The 2022 amount outstanding is drawn from the following
Sources & References
- https://finances.gov.bi/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Rapport-2022-FINAL_clean.pdf Sources: Le Burundi bénéficie d’un prêt de 32,6 millions de dollars d’Exim Bank China pour financer son passage à la radiotélévision numérique
- MEDIA RELEASE CONSECUTIVE TO THE CABINET MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 19th OF JULY 2017
- Le Burundi passe à la télévision numérique
- Analyse de deux projets de loi
- China hands over satellite TV project for 300 Burundian villages
- National Assembly
- Official launch of the switchover from analogue to digital for national television in Burundi
- Annual Report 2017
- Burundi Digital TV Transformation Project Transmission Facilities Handover Ceremony Successfully Held
- Analysis and adoption of the Bill on the Ratification by the Republic of Burundi of the Concessional Credit Agreement No. China Eximbank GCL 2016 No. (33) Total No. (603) between the Republic of Burundi and Eximbank of China relating to the realization of the Migration Project to Digital Television Broadcasting in Burundi, signed in Bujumbura on June 1, 2017.New article
- Star News
- Burundi Digital TV Transformation Project Transmission Facilities Handover Ceremony Successfully Held
- Li Changlin
- Ambassador to Burundi, attended the ceremony of China Star Times Company handing over the digital TV transfer project transmission facilities to the Burundi government
- Burundi ratifies digital switchover bill with Chinese loan
- China Database
- 驻布隆迪大使李昌林出席布隆迪“万村通”项目启动仪式
- COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE N°09 DE LA REUNION DU CONSEIL DES MINISTRES DU MERCREDI 09 AOÛT 2023
- Ouverture de la Session Parlementaire ordinaire de Juin 2017
- Loi N°1/A4 du A4 Aout 2017 Portant Ratification...
- Ministère des Finances, du Budget et de la Planification Economique Direction de la Dette Rapport Annuel Exercice 2022
- La STNB lance officiellement ses activités
- Le projet de contrat d’exploitation et de maintenance du réseau de télévision numérique terrestre entre l’État du Burundi et la société de télédiffusion numérique du Burundi analysé en conseil des ministres. Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.
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Government of Burundi
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