A decisive step has just been taken in cooperation between Burkina Faso and Canada with the official launch of the Burkina-Canada Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-BC) in Ottawa. This new instrument aims to strengthen commercial exchanges, stimulate investments, and serve as a catalyst for joint projects carried out by the entrepreneurial diaspora.

“The Chamber is a bridge of growth that goes well beyond symbolism. It touches the concrete, business, and the creation of shared values,” declared Désiré Kaboré, president of the CCI-BC, before an audience notably composed of Marie-France Lalonde, Member of Parliament for Orléans, Jacline Gandahe, president of the Gatineau Chamber of Commerce, as well as businessmen and women from Canada and Africa.

Désiré Kaboré presented an ambitious vision: to showcase the  economic potential of Burkina Faso, particularly its fertile agriculture, diverse resources, and immense solar potential.

He assured that the Chamber will play the role of facilitator and compass for Canadian investors, offering them secure access to information and on-ground support.

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For his part, Idrissa Soulama Nénio, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Burkina Faso in Canada, recalled that commercial relations are already solid, with Canadian investments valued at nearly $1.1 billion in 2023, primarily in the mining sector. He highlighted the establishment of an attractive legal framework to welcome new partners.

The officials present unanimously emphasized the importance of win-win cooperation. “While culture and language contribute to bringing us closer, it is business that will truly seal the deal,” affirmed Ms. Lalonde, before presenting a certificate of recognition to the CCI-BC on behalf of the citizens of Orléans.

For her part, Ms. Gandahe shared her personal experience, illustrating how such collaboration can transform trajectories and generate economic success.

In summary, the CCI-BC aims to be more than just a simple structure: an influential network of decision-makers and a driver of opportunities, designed to create wealth for both Ouagadougou and Ottawa.

Olivier TOE