Burkina Faso and China have signed a series of new economic cooperation agreements aimed at strengthening industrial development, boosting trade and accelerating local value addition in the West African nation.
The agreements were concluded on the sidelines of the Burkina Faso Economic and Investment Forum in China, which brought together Chinese investors and Burkinabe project developers to explore investment opportunities across key sectors of the economy.
According to Burkina Faso’s state broadcaster Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina, the agreements span strategic sectors including agri-food processing, industrial packaging and exports of locally produced goods to the Chinese market.
Burkina Faso authorities said the partnerships are expected to promote the local transformation of raw materials, attract industrial investment and create employment opportunities for citizens. The projects also align with the government’s broader industrialisation agenda aimed at reducing dependence on raw commodity exports.
China, on its part, is looking to strengthen agricultural supply chains and expand its economic footprint in West Africa, with Burkina Faso increasingly viewed as an important regional partner. The deals are expected to combine technology transfer, industrial financing and enhanced market access for Burkinabe products in China.
Five major projects were signed between Chinese investors and Burkinabe companies during the forum. Among them is a sesame production and export partnership with Faso Services, alongside plans for the establishment of a beef processing facility with an annual production capacity of about 300 tonnes. Additional agreements focus on packaging manufacturing projects designed to support local industries and exports.
Relations between Burkina Faso and China have continued to grow since both countries resumed diplomatic relations in May 2018. Since then, Chinese companies have steadily increased their investments and commercial activities in Burkina Faso, particularly in construction, cement production, steel manufacturing, trade, beverages and other industrial sectors.
Data from the Chinese Embassy in Burkina Faso indicates that China’s stock of foreign direct investment in the country stood at approximately $17.64 million at the end of 2024.
Recent cooperation projects between the two countries include the completion of the first phase of the SMART Burkina Faso digital programme, the launch of construction works for the 25-megawatt Donsin solar power plant in July 2025 and the signing of a loan agreement to improve water supply systems in four Burkinabe cities.
Trade between the two countries has also witnessed rapid expansion. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC)�, China exported goods worth $118 million to Burkina Faso in February 2026, representing a 175 per cent increase from the $42.8 million recorded in February 2025.
Over the past five years, bilateral trade between both countries has grown at an average annual rate of 37.4 per cent, reflecting deepening economic cooperation and growing commercial exchanges between Beijing and Ouagadougou.
