The Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest-Africaine (UEMOA) has announced the launch of the 7th edition of its "Consume Local" initiative, set to begin on October 1, 2026. This year's theme is "Consume Local, a Factor of Regional Integration and Economic Sovereignty of UEMOA in the Face of Global Trade Changes." The initiative aims to promote local consumption as a means of developing businesses, transforming raw materials, and consolidating the regional market.
The UEMOA Commission has planned three main events at its headquarters in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. On October 1, the initiative will be officially launched under the presidency of Abdoulaye Diop, President of the UEMOA Commission. The Burkinabé Minister of Industry, Trade, and Handicrafts, as well as the President of the Regional Chamber of Commerce, are also expected to attend.
On October 2, a public conference will be held to discuss the challenges and opportunities related to the theme. The conference will focus on value chains, quality and standardization, digitalization, and e-commerce, as well as the common market. Two panels will be organized, one on local production as an instrument of economic sovereignty and the other on regional strategies to implement in a changing global trade environment.
An exhibition-sale event will take place from October 1 to 4, featuring exhibitors from the eight member states. This event returns to the regional level after a hiatus since the fair organized in October 2024 in Ouagadougou. National events will also be held in member states, including official launches, exhibitions, conferences, training sessions, company visits, and business meetings.
The "Consume Local" initiative was established in 2019 by UEMOA member states' ministers of trade and is currently being evaluated. An ongoing study, launched in June 2026, assesses the first five editions of the initiative, from 2020 to 2024. Preliminary findings indicate a generally positive appreciation of the initiative's relevance, with suggestions for improvement, including strengthening exhibitor selection criteria and better planning of activities.
According to Pr Filiga Michel Sawadogo, UEMOA Commissioner for the Regional Market and Cooperation Department, the theme of this 7th edition is directly linked to recent global trade changes and vulnerabilities revealed by crises. The initiative aims to promote economic sovereignty, not as a withdrawal from the global economy, but as the ability to preserve decision-making margins, absorb external shocks, and produce more locally.
The "Consume Local" initiative seeks to create opportunities for producers, support local transformation and product diversification, enhance enterprise competitiveness, and stimulate exchanges between states. With only 13.1% of UEMOA's merchandise trade occurring between member states between 2022 and 2024, there is significant potential for growth.
Key points
- UEMOA launches 7th "Consume Local" initiative to promote regional integration and economic sovereignty
- Initiative aims to boost local consumption, enterprise competitiveness, and regional exchanges
- Evaluation study highlights relevance and areas for improvement of the initiative
