President Évariste Ndayishimiye was welcomed by Lieutenant General Pham Truong Son, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army; Ambassador of Vietnam to Tanzania and Burundi, Ms. Vu Thanh Huyen; and Major General Tao Duc Thang, Chairman and CEO of Viettel Group.

At Viettel Sports Company, President Ndayishimiye visited the traditional room showcasing the history of Viettel’s football club — the oldest and most decorated football club in Vietnam — toured the facilities, and watched performances by Thể Công – Viettel football players. The President highly appreciated Viettel’s orientation in building a football team, emphasizing his admiration for the club’s focus on ethics, discipline, and embracing innovation through sports.

President Ndayishimiye and Major General Tao Duc Thang also discussed potential cooperation programs between Viettel Sports Company and Burundi, notably emphasizing that Burundian players would come to train at the Thể Công – Viettel Football Club.

During the working session at Viettel Group’s headquarters, Viettel representatives reaffirmed their commitment to contributing to the economic, social, and technological development of Burundi. President Ndayishimiye expressed his readiness to facilitate Viettel’s telecom joint venture operations, positioning it as a bridge between the two nations. Both sides emphasized the strong partnership between Burundi and Vietnam and their future plans for digital transformation cooperation.

President Évariste Ndayishimiye stated:
“We thank Viettel for investing in Burundi at a time when we were beginning our national reconstruction, taking risks to join us in rebuilding society and developing the economy. This shows Vietnam’s care and commitment to Burundi. We are planning to digitize all government ministries and agencies, and in this endeavor, I sincerely hope Viettel will share its experience and provide support.”

Major General Tao Duc Thang, Chairman and CEO of Viettel Group, emphasized:
“Viettel is committed to long-term investment, bringing tangible benefits to the nation and people of Burundi. We will expand coverage into more remote areas, tripling the current 4G coverage. Lumitel will also introduce digital platforms that have been successfully implemented in Vietnam and other countries to Burundi.”

About Lumitel

Lumitel — Viettel’s brand in Burundi — is the leading mobile operator in the country, holding a 67.5% market share as of 2024. Its leadership is built on the widest network coverage — twice that of the second-largest carrier — reaching 95% of the population.

Lumitel plays a vital role in modernizing Burundi’s economy. Over its 11 years of operation, Lumitel has contributed more than USD 286.5 million to the national budget.

Lumitel serves as a crucial bridge between Burundi and Vietnam. Moving forward, Viettel’s brand in Burundi is committed to partnering with the government in the national digital transformation agenda, leveraging Viettel’s experience from Vietnam. Lumitel hopes for continued support from the Burundian government to ensure stable and long-term operations, contributing even more to the country’s development.

Beyond business, Lumitel actively contributes to social initiatives and sustainable development goals. The company has created stable jobs and income for over 60,000 workers, both directly and indirectly, through its distribution network.

Through its core business activities, Lumitel collaborates with the United Nations to provide approximately 70,000 SIM cards annually to disadvantaged groups and maintains free internet services for 261 schools, healthcare centers, and 40 government video conferencing hubs — valued at around USD 500,000 each year.

About Lumicash

Lumicash, Lumitel’s e-wallet service, has enabled Burundians — particularly those in rural areas and refugee communities — to access digital financial services, including money transfers, withdrawals, and payments. Lumitel’s technology has helped the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) efficiently distribute humanitarian aid funds securely to individual refugees and households.

Additionally, Lumitel supports vulnerable groups and contributes to education and healthcare development through various projects, such as providing monthly support to orphanages (since March 2024), donating houses to flood victims in Bubanza (October 2024), and funding clean water wells worth approximately USD 1 million.

Other social initiatives include sponsorship of the National Women’s Football Championship and partnerships with the Burundi Football Federation.

To date, Lumitel’s total social contribution amounts to approximately USD 7 million.