The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) village was officially opened on October 31, 2026, at the 18th edition of the Ouagadougou International Handicraft Fair (SIAO). This initiative aims to strengthen cooperation between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger by sharing experiences and promoting their artisanal skills. The village is located in front of the Faso Presidency stand, heading towards the Soleil levant pavilion.
The AES village is an innovation of this edition of the fair and embodies the vision of the AES authorities to harmonize policies and measures for the economic and social development of the confederal space. The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Handicrafts, Serge Gnaniodem Poda, inaugurated the ceremony and explained that the village provides a meeting platform for artisanal actors from the three member countries.
The village offers a space for artisans to share experiences, showcase their products, and discuss challenges facing the sector. It also aims to explore mechanisms to overcome obstacles to development. The initiative is part of the reflection on the links between handicrafts and industrialization, a major axis promoted during the official opening ceremony of SIAO.
According to Minister Poda, handicrafts should not be seen as an activity focused solely on the past but as a sector capable of building the future. He emphasized the need to leverage industrialization to strengthen artisanal production capacities, improve product competitiveness, and contribute to the economic development of AES countries.
The AES village also serves as a showcase for the cultural richness and similarities between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Visitors can discover artisanal products that reflect the diversity and richness of the confederal space's know-how. Ghana, the guest of honor, and Madagascar were also involved in this initiative, promoting pan-Africanism and cooperation.
The official opening of the AES village marks a step in concretizing cooperation between the three member countries of the Confederation. Artisanal actors are called upon to combine their efforts to valorize their common heritage and contribute to harmonious economic and social development within the AES.
The SIAO, now in its 18th edition, continues to promote artisanal cooperation and cultural exchange. The event brings together artisans, industry experts, and enthusiasts to celebrate the richness and diversity of African artisanal production.
Key points
- The AES village aims to strengthen cooperation between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in the artisanal sector.
- The initiative promotes the sharing of experiences and the valorization of artisanal skills among AES member countries.
- The village also serves as a showcase for the cultural richness and similarities between the three countries.
