|
|
 |
Burkina Faso India Relation |
|
|
Burkina-India Relation
The relations between India and Burkina Faso have been cordial, though in the past our interaction was mainly limited to multi-lateral fora such as NAM and the UN. Bilateral relation activities really began in March 1976 when an official delegation led by Burkina Faso’s Commerce & Industry Minister visited India and signed a protocol on Economic and Technical Cooperation. Since then, there have been a number of high-level visits from Burkina Faso to India including the visits of the President of Burkina Faso. |
 |
|
Bilateral relations got a boost in May-June 1993, when President Blaise Compaoré visited India. During this visit, India and Burkina Faso decided to establish a Joint Commission to foster cooperation between the two countries. India offered to assist Burkina Faso in its economic development particularly in the areas of agriculture, handlooms, mining, irrigation, small scale industries etc.
The Joint Commission on economic, cultural, political and technical cooperation between the two countries was established after an agreement signed on 29 October 1994. Its first two sessions were held in New Delhi in February 1995 and in February 1996.
Later in July 1994, when President Compaoré paid a two-day transit visit to Delhi, India decided to extend Rs.25 crores aid to Burkina Faso in the agricultural field, comprising a package of agricultural aid under the Integrated Agricultural Project.
Our bilateral relations got a further boost in 2-4 November 1995 when the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao paid a state visit to Ouagadougou.
Recently, Prime Minister Tertius Zongo visited India from 7-9 April 2008 to attend the India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi, on behalf of President Comporé who was then the chairman of ECOWAS.He met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and discussed matters of mutual interest.He also met President Patil. His visit has given a further impetus to bilateral ties between the two countries.
Burkina Faso is one of the countries where the Pan-African e-Network Project is being set up by the Government of India to provide effective communication and e-connectivity to all African countries.
This website was inaugurated on march 23, 2009 jointly by H.E. Mr. Bédouma Alain Yoda Senior Minister of Forigen Affairs and Regional Cooperation of Burkina Faso and H.E. Mr. Pranab Mukharjee, Minister of External Affairs of the Government of India, at the 5th CII EXIM Bank Conclave on India Africa Project Partnership 2009, which was held at the Taj Place Hotel, New Delhi, India.
20th March, 2009(1200 hrs): 3rd session of the Indo-Burkina Faso Joint Commission on Economic, Technical and Scientific Cooperation was chaired by H.E. Shri Anand Sharma, Minister of State for External Affairs, Government of India and H.E. Mr. Bédouma Alain Yoda, Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Regional Cooperation, Burkina Faso side .
Indian training assistance including ITEC
India has rendered technical assistance to Burkina Faso in its human resource development through Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and Special Commonwealth African Assistance Plan (SCAAP) programmes in areas such as IT, agriculture and agro processing, entrepreneurship development, tool designing, small business creation and income generating activities for women entrepreneurs, rural industry promotion and water resources development, etc. Burkina Faso availed of 9 ITEC slots in 2007-08. Since Burkina Faso utilized 8 slots allocated to it last year, the allocation of slots for Burkina Faso has been increased to 18 in 2008-09.
Trend of Trade
India’s exports to Burkina Faso during the year 2007-2008 amounted to US $ 32.31 million while India’s imports from Burkina Faso were US $ 19.36 million. The table below shows the trade between India and Burkina Faso from 2003-04 to 2007-08:
(All figures in US$ millions) |
|
|
Year |
Imports from Burkina Faso |
Exports to Burkina Faso |
Total |
2003-04 |
10.45 |
23.74 |
34.20 |
2004-05 |
8.44 |
21.10 |
29.54 |
2005-06 |
2.69 |
19.93 |
22.62 |
2006-07 |
5.56 |
14.98 |
20.54 |
2007-08 |
19.36 |
32.31 |
51.66 |
|
|
Commodities Traded
The major exports from India to Burkina Faso are pharmaceutical products; cycles, motorcycles and parts thereof; machinery and mechanical appliances; rubber and articles thereof.
Exports from Burkina Faso to India include Cotton; Iron & Steel; Minerals, Wood and articles of wood; raw hides and skins; leather.
Indian community in Burkina Faso
The Indian community in Burkina Faso is well settled. Some Indians In Burkina Faso are running restaurants; some are in the cotton and gold business. While some others are in Cement and mining business or running industrial units. |
|
|
|
|
