Burkina Faso occupies a critical regional transit hub in the heart of West Africa with borders to six neighboring countries: Mali to the north west, Niger to the north east, and Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire to the south. As a landlocked, low-income country with a limited export base and high population growth, the challenge for the country is to diversify its economy and make more decisive inroads in poverty reduction. While most poverty indicators have improved over recent years, inequalities have remained persistent and progress will need to accelerate if the Sustainable Development Goals are to be met.
Against this background, Burkina Faso’s ambitious development policy (Programme Nationale de Développement Economique et Sociale - PNDES) dating from July 2016 focuses on three pillars: i) Institutional Reform and Modernization, ii) Improving Human Capital, and iii) Promoting Jobs and Growth. While growth has remained robust at around 6 percent per annum in recent years, the PNDES envisages significant investment in infrastructure with a view to accelerating development over the medium term: This includes key projects in the area of energy, transport, agriculture and human capital.
Burkina Faso is a member of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, in addition to the United Nations and its specialized agencies.
| Key Indicators | |
| Population, millions | 19.19 |
| GDP per Capita, U.S. dollars | 654.87 |
| GDP Growth, percent |
6.42 |
| Inflation, end of period, percent | 0.35 |
| General Government Debt, percent | 38.12 |
| Global Competitiveness Ranking 2014-15 | 135 |
| Doing Business Ranking, 2019 | 151 |
| *Figures are for the period 2017, unless otherwise indicated. | |
Mining Sector
- Under-exploited reserves and a mining code among the most attractive and Africa;
- Development of the mining sector is recent (2008) but its growth has been spectacular;
- In addition to the 11 mines in operation and others under construction, there are unexploited reserves of manganese, zinc, copper, limestone, phosphates, and bauxite;
- Private sector investment is welcome in a totally liberalized sector.
Transport Sector
- Construction of the rail link between Tambao (manganese reserves) and Ouagadougou via Kaya and Dori;
- Construction and management of a new international airport at Ouagadougou-Donsin;
- Creation of a dry port at Ouagadougou;
- Management concession for the services at all international airports in the country.
Energy Sector
- Major solar power resources with radiation of 5.5 KwH per square meter and per day in the context of total liberalization of the power generation sub-sector;
- Construction and exploitation of large-scale power plants (notably solar and thermal);
- Creation of assembly units for photovoltaic modules;
- Construction of oil pipeline between Ferkessedougou (Ivory Coast) and Ougadougou;
The solar power plant at Zagtouli:
- Construction of a solar power plant of 33 MWc at Zagtouli was the first experience with diversifying the sources of electricity generation in Burkina Faso;
- The extension project will increase production by 22.5 MWc while improving the national energy mix.
Information and Communication Technology
- 85% of the population own a mobile phone but only a few have access to high-speed internet; the network needs improvement and computer skills need to be developed (2017);
- Expansion of fiber optic network and cell phone towers;
- Creation of a virtual university and establishment of 13 digital centers in the regions;
- Establishment of technopoles and incubators;
- 7 university technopoles;
- 3 technopoles for pharmaceuticals, agri-business and energy;
- One ICT technopole at Ouagadougou;
- Development of e-health and e-agriculture;
- Development of mobile banking.
Agro-Industrial Sector
- A leader in the production of cotton, sesame and meat; good potential in fruit and vegetables;
- A presence of specialized institutions.
- Transformation of cotton (spinning, textiles, clothing), agricultural marketing, and the existence of special economic zones offer attractive investment opportunities.
- Creation of industrial units for the manufacture and essembly of agricultural equipment (tractors, power tillers), and the transformation of agricultural products and bi-products;
- Installation and operation of modern factories for the meat, milk and other livestock products.
- Two aprogoles already being implemented in Sourou and Samendeni, in addition to the one at Bagre (Bagrepole) to increase and diversify agricultural production and improve food security for the local population;
- Development of two sepcial economic zones at Ouagadougou and Bobo-Diolasso.
