Hosting a high-level delegation from Burkina Faso at its Cairo Headquarters recently, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has heard a request to increase the volume of its operations in Burkina Faso.
Yipeme Djibril Bassole, Burkina Faso’s Senior Minister in Charge of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, who led the eight-member delegation, told Afreximbank officials that a number of key projects had been identified as suitable for financing by the Bank in order to enhance Burkina Faso’s economic development. These include those related to integration infrastructure and to the energy sector.
Mr. Bassole described Afreximbank as an important development partner for African countries and said that the African countries should reorient their policies to focus on economic development.
Responding, Afreximbank President Jean-Louis Ekra reiterated the Bank’s commitment to supporting African countries to develop their trade potentials, and said that the Bank was already working on a number of transactions related to Burkina Faso, including with SONABHY, the national oil distribution company, and with SOFITEX.
According to the President, the Bank intends to send a team to Ouagadougou to meet with representatives of the Burkinabe private sector for discussions on financing and partnership opportunities.
Mr. Ekra said that the Bank looked forward to Burkina Faso’s ratification of the Bank’s Establishment Agreement, noting that although Burkina Faso was a founding member of the Bank, it was yet to conclude the formal ratification of that instrument.
He also reminded the delegation that the Bank’s Laissez Passer had come into effect and appealed to the Government of Burkina Faso to accord the document the required recognition in order to facilitate official travel of representatives and officials of the Bank so as to enable it deliver on its mandate of promoting and financing African trade.
In addition, the President urged Burkina Faso to consider increasing its shareholding in the Bank as part of the effort to increase the Bank’s capital base.
The minister was accompanied by several other officials of his ministry, including Pascal Batjobo, Director-General for Bilateral Relations; Sabine Bakyono, Director for Africa; Yolande Kalwoule, Director of Communication and the Press; and Alban Yameogo, Chief, North Africa Service, as well as by Gnama Henri Bacye, the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Egypt.
The visiting Burkinabe delegation in group photograph with the Afreximbank team.
Afreximbank President Jean-Louis Ekra (2nd right) with Yipeme Djibril Bassole, Burkina Faso’s Senior Minister in Charge of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (3rd right), Denys Denya, Afreximbank Executive Vice President (1st left), and Gnama Henri Bacye, Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Egypt.