Written by: Badr Ahmed

The President of Burkina Faso and President of the Confederation of Sahel States, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, received in the capital Ouagadougou the Ministers of Industry and Trade of the Confederation’s member states, as part of the follow-up to the implementation of the strategic directions approved by the leaders of the alliance countries, and to strengthen the path of economic and industrial integration among the member states.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the fourth session of working meetings held by the ministers in charge of the industry and trade sectors in the Confederation countries, where the delegation was headed by the Burkinabe Minister of Industry and Trade, Serge Gnanoudim Bouda, in the presence of his counterparts from Mali and Niger.

Ministers from Sahel countries discuss boosting trade and combating smuggling.

During the meeting, the ministers presented President Traore with a detailed report on the progress made in implementing the treaty establishing the Confederation of Sahel States, which entered into force with the aim of strengthening economic and trade cooperation between the three countries, in addition to reviewing the level of implementation of the strategic guidelines set by the heads of the member states.

The Malian Minister of Trade, Moussa Alassane Diallo, said that the delegation briefed the President of the Confederation on the measures taken since the adoption of the treaty, as well as the practical steps aimed at achieving economic integration and promoting joint industrial development.

Diallo explained that the ministers’ main task is to build a strong industrial base capable of supporting the economies of the Sahel countries, improving the business climate, and enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector, thereby contributing to job creation and achieving sustainable development.

He added that the discussions focused on a number of priority issues, including combating smuggling and commercial fraud, facilitating trade between member states, improving investment attractiveness, as well as developing value chains and processing agricultural products locally in a way that enhances added value and reduces dependence on imports.

For his part, President Ibrahim Traoré praised the progress made in implementing the Confederation’s programs, calling for the adoption of rapid structural and practical solutions to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises, encourage local investment, and accelerate efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency.

Following the meeting, the ministers affirmed their commitment to continuing joint efforts to make industrial development one of the main pillars of the economic integration project within the Confederation of Sahel States, in order to fulfill the aspirations of the region’s peoples for development, stability, and self-reliance.