By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Nigeria and Burkina Faso have moved to deepen economic relations, targeting increased trade, investment, transportation, manufacturing, logistics and digital-economy cooperation.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Amb. Syndoph Endoni, and leaders of the General Confederation of Faso Enterprises (COGEF), made the commitment in Ouagadougou.
Endoni said, in a statement, that the meeting brought together the Nigerian Embassy and Burkina Faso’s principal private-sector employers’ organisation.
COGEF President, Idrissa Nassa, led the Burkinabè business delegation during discussions aimed at creating greater opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs in both countries.
The meeting provided Nigeria with a channel for expanding relations beyond traditional government-to-government diplomacy into business-led cooperation.
Both sides agreed that stronger commercial relations could provide additional momentum for broader Nigeria-Burkina Faso cooperation.
Nassa said COGEF was prepared to develop extensive partnerships with Nigeria capable of substantially increasing bilateral trade and facilitating private-sector investment.
He said the organisation would work closely with Nigerian partners to identify commercially-viable areas of collaboration.
“COGEF will foster extensive economic partnership with Nigeria to significantly increase trade and facilitate investment opportunities between the Nigerian and Burkinabè private sectors,” he said.
Nassa said the organisation looked forward to identifying new opportunities capable of strengthening the longstanding economic relationship between both countries.
Endoni told the Burkinabè employers that Nigeria remained open to economic engagement, partnerships and business opportunities capable of broadening bilateral cooperation.
“Nigeria’s doors are open to Burkina Faso for any economic engagement and business opportunities that will further broaden our cooperation,” the Ambassador said.
He said Nigeria attached considerable importance to its relationship with Burkina Faso and wanted economic and commercial ties expanded.
Endoni particularly encouraged greater cooperation to improve the movement of goods and services and create a more attractive environment for investors.
The ambassador said deeper cooperation in transportation and logistics could help businesses overcome some of the practical barriers affecting regional commerce.
Endoni said efforts were also underway to reactivate joint economic mechanisms between Nigeria and Burkina Faso, especially, the Nigeria-Burkina Faso Bi-National Joint Commission for more structured bilateral economic engagement.
COGEF, previously known as the National Council of Burkinabè Employers, represents a major umbrella for organised private-sector interests in Burkina Faso.
The organisation maintains engagement with government institutions, employers, workers’ organisations and international partners while promoting enterprise development and private-sector interests.
Transport and logistics cooperation could help facilitate movement of Nigerian goods into Burkina Faso while connecting Burkinabè businesses with Nigeria’s large consumer market.
The engagement also comes at an important period in West African relations following Burkina Faso’s closer alignment with Mali and Niger under the Alliance of Sahel States, AES.
The three countries formally withdrew from ECOWAS but discussions continue on maintaining constructive regional relations and cooperation.
Against that background, Endoni said stronger bilateral economic ties between Nigeria and Burkina Faso could provide another practical channel for sustaining regional connectivity in spite of the changing political arrangements.
He said private-sector cooperation could also help preserve commercial relationships and people-to-people contacts independently of differences at the political or regional institutional level.
Endoni said the meeting with COGEF followed a series of early engagements since assuming duty in Ouagadougou aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and Nigeria’s presence in Burkina Faso.
The ambassador emphasised greater engagement with government institutions, the Nigerian community and Burkinabè stakeholders as part of efforts to deepen cooperation.
Both sides expressed confidence that stronger private-sector partnerships could create tangible benefits while reinforcing longstanding ties between Nigerians and Burkinabè.
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