Burkina Faso and China have signed a series of new economic cooperation agreements aimed at expanding investment in agri-processing, industrial packaging and export-oriented production, further strengthening ties between the two countries.
The agreements were concluded on the sidelines of the Burkina Faso Economic and Investment Forum held in China, which brought together Chinese investors and Burkinabe project developers to explore new business opportunities across strategic sectors of the West African economy.
According to Burkina Faso’s state broadcaster RTB, the deals are designed to accelerate the local processing of raw materials, attract industrial investment and create employment opportunities in a country seeking to diversify its economy beyond traditional exports.
Five projects were signed in total, involving partnerships between Chinese investors and Burkinabe firms. These include a sesame production and export partnership with Faso Services, the establishment of a beef processing unit with an annual capacity of about 300 tonnes, and several industrial packaging ventures targeting both domestic and export markets.
Burkina Faso authorities have framed the agreements as part of a broader strategy to shift the economy toward value addition, reduce reliance on raw commodity exports and expand access to international markets, particularly in Asia.
China, for its part, is seeking to secure stable agricultural supplies and deepen its commercial footprint in West Africa, a region it increasingly views as strategically important for trade and resource diversification. The projects combine industrial investment, technology transfer and improved access for Burkinabe products to Chinese markets.
The latest agreements come amid steadily improving relations between Ouagadougou and Beijing, which formally resumed diplomatic ties in May 2018. Since then, Chinese firms have expanded their presence across multiple sectors in Burkina Faso, including construction, cement production, steel, beverages and general manufacturing.
According to figures from the Chinese Embassy in Burkina Faso, China’s stock of foreign direct investment in the country reached $17.64 million by the end of 2024. While relatively modest in scale, the investments have been concentrated in infrastructure-linked and consumer goods sectors, where Chinese companies have established a visible footprint.
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Recent cooperation projects include the completion of the first phase of the “SMART Burkina Faso” programme, the launch in July 2025 of construction works on the 25-megawatt Donsin solar power plant, and the signing of a loan agreement to finance a multi-city water supply project covering four urban centres.
Trade flows between the two countries have also expanded rapidly. In February 2026, China exported goods worth $118 million to Burkina Faso, representing a 175% increase from $42.8 million in the same month a year earlier, according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC).
Over the past five years, bilateral trade has grown at an average annual rate of 37.4%, reflecting China’s rising role as both a supplier of industrial goods and a partner in infrastructure development across the Sahel region.
Analysts say the new agreements underscore Beijing’s continued strategy of strengthening economic links in West Africa through targeted investments in agriculture, energy and light manufacturing, while providing Burkina Faso with opportunities to expand industrial capacity and access new export markets.
For Burkina Faso, the challenge will be ensuring that these partnerships translate into sustained job creation and local value addition, rather than reinforcing dependence on imported inputs and external financing.
Still, officials in Ouagadougou have described the latest deals as a step forward in efforts to modernise the country’s productive base and integrate more deeply into global value chains, particularly in agri-food processing and light industry.
