The President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has officially inaugurated the new tomato processing plant in Bobo-Dioulasso.
During the inauguration, President Traoré said that the plant is a symbol of the country’s commitment to self-reliance and inclusive growth.
In his words:
“This industrial unit is a strong symbol of our vision of endogenous and inclusive development of Burkina Faso, the aim of which is the full development of all my fellow citizens.
“For this project to see the light of day, it took the patriotic commitment of the Burkinabe, from within and from the diaspora, who massively subscribed to the program of community entrepreneurship through popular shareholding.
“I remain convinced that Burkina Faso has the necessary resources for its development and prosperity. Let us therefore continue our march towards a sovereign, proud and prosperous Burkina Faso.”
The factory, which is located on a 3-hectare site in Bobo-Dioulasso, was built with an investment of over 5 billion FCFA (around $8 million). The facility is capable of processing up to 5 tons of tomato concentrate per hour and aims to serve both local and export markets.
The plant is expected to create over 100 direct jobs and more than 5,000 indirect jobs, benefiting farmers and others in the agricultural sector. It will also offer a stable market for local tomato growers, helping to reduce post-harvest losses and stabilise prices.
Tomato production in Burkina Faso has been steadily increasing, with the country producing approximately 290,000 tons of tomatoes in 2021.
According to the governor of the Hauts-Bassins region, Mariama Gnanou, Burkinabe tomatoes are mostly sold raw to foreign buyers, meanwhile, imported tomato concentrates continue to dominate the domestic market, often at high prices, with consumers unable to verify the quality of these products.
The plant is part of the government’s effort to strengthen local industries and reduce the country’s reliance on imports.
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