AES industry and trade ministers lay groundwork for ambitious economic integration
via Lefaso.net7 min read
Ministers of industry and trade from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger convened to transform political directives into concrete actions for economic development within the Confederation of Sahel States AES. The meeting, which followed preparatory expert sessions, was officially opened on June 15, 2026, by Burkina Faso's Prime Minister, Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo. He emphasized the need to move from political commitments to visible results, highlighting industry and trade as key drivers for economic independence. The Prime Minister urged participants to focus on three main areas: endogenous industrialization to end raw material exports, streamlining trade within the confederal space to create an integrated Sahelian market, and harmonizing regulations to combat unfair competition and protect nascent industries. The meeting also acknowledged the vision of AES heads of state, including Captain Ibrahim Traoré, General of the Army Assimi Goïta, and General of the Army Abdourahamane Tiani. Bassolma Bazié, President of the National Commission of the Confederation of Sahel States CN-CES, underscored the importance of dialogue between public authorities and economic actors. The ministers reviewed the implementation of previous recommendations, focusing on industrial development, private sector competitiveness, improving the business climate, investment attractiveness, trade facilitation, product standardization, and combating fraud and unfair competition. Key outcomes included the ad
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