The President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has called on citizens to support local products as a way of promoting the country's economic sovereignty. Speaking through the Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts, and Tourism, Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo, the President launched the second phase of the third edition of the National Days of Patriotic Engagement and Civic Participation (JNEPPC) 2026. The campaign's motto is "Tous pour le made in Burkina, faisons de chaque achat un acte de souveraineté" or "All for made in Burkina, let's make every purchase an act of sovereignty".
The President's message emphasizes the importance of producing, transforming, and consuming local products. He noted that the country has significant human and natural resources to increase production, but faces challenges such as inadequate equipment, seeds, and fertilizers, as well as the impact of insecurity. Despite these challenges, the President reported encouraging results, including the production of over 7 million tons of cereals and over 1 million tons of rice.
To increase production, the President highlighted the need for mechanization, hydro-agricultural developments, inputs, and village cooperatives. He also stressed the importance of local transformation to create value-added products, citing examples such as cotton, karité, sesame, mango, leather, and livestock. The goal is to evolve from small-scale workshops to larger manufacturing and industrial production.
The President's message also called for a change in consumer behavior, encouraging citizens to prioritize local products when available. He argued that choosing local products is an act of patriotism and sovereignty, and proposed serving at least one meal entirely made up of local products every day. The President also suggested that baptisms, weddings, funerals, and other ceremonies should be used to promote local products, drinks, and clothing.
Women play a crucial role in the President's vision, as they are involved in production, transformation, and consumption. The President highlighted their contributions to local production and transformation, citing examples such as soumbala, dèguè, infant flours, shea butter, and Faso Dan Fani. He called on women to be further empowered to contribute to the national economy.
The President's message also addressed the role of artisans, traders, and industrialists in promoting local products. He encouraged traders to choose between supporting national production or contributing to dependence on foreign products. The President also denounced practices such as fraud, smuggling, and the boycott of local products.
To reinforce the campaign, the President called for preference to be given to national products in public procurement and state canteens. He also suggested that products should be clearly labeled as "made in Burkina" and that local products should be given priority on store shelves. The President emphasized that patriotism must go hand-in-hand with excellence in product quality.
Key points
- The President of Burkina Faso has launched a campaign to promote local products.
- The campaign's motto is "Tous pour le made in Burkina, faisons de chaque achat un acte de souveraineté".
- The President emphasized the importance of producing, transforming, and consuming local products to promote economic sovereignty.
