Sissili: The 34th session of the General Assemblies of State companies and public social welfare establishments concluded with an appeal from Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ou©draogo, urging leaders to prioritize sovereignty and performance, as these entities are strategic tools for Burkina Faso's liberation.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Prime Minister Ou©draogo emphasized that the heads of public companies are not only managers but also "freedom fighters" who need to consider the strategic implications of their decisions and partnerships. He cautioned that poor choices could increase vulnerabilities for the companies they oversee and stressed the importance of collaboration with the ministry responsible for Digital Transition to ensure sovereignty and control over software and digital projects.
Ou©draogo declared, "More than ever, the revolution, the fight for liberation has entered a new phase. It's war as war," as he urged leaders to reinvent their approaches to contribute to the freedom of the Burkinab¨ people. He called for responsibility and rigor in governance, civic-mindedness, patriotism, reform implementation, and consultation frameworks with administrators.
The session highlighted a "dynamic of consolidation" in public company performance, with an 80.30% increase in turnover and a 4.55% increase in the total output of public social welfare institutions projected for 2025. Ou©draogo noted the improvement in net results, contributions to the State budget and the Patriotic Support Fund, and the implementation of good governance practices and audit recommendations.
He announced the continuation of reforms in public companies, attributing their performance to "courageous reforms" aimed at governance improvement, rigor enhancement, and performance boosting, thus empowering Burkina Faso to control its destiny across sectors. Ou©draogo assured that state-owned companies are under continuous monitoring and urged their leaders to strengthen governance and reform implementation.
Minister of Industry, Trade, and Handicrafts, Serge Gnaniodem Poda, reported an 80% increase in combined revenue of state-owned enterprises, reaching 5,571 billion FCFA. Their profit surplus rose by over 15%, amounting to 146 billion FCFA, and their contribution to the state budget exceeded 680 billion FCFA, a 22% increase. Poda also highlighted the success of a public mining company, with a turnover of over 3,000 billion FCFA, and announced that 11 new state-owned enterprises would be evaluated in the 35th session for the 2026 financial year.
While acknowledging challenges faced by some companies due to their social missions, the minister assured ongoing measures to enhance their performance.