Ouagadougou: The National Steering Committee for Growth Poles inaugurated its first ordinary session of 2026 on Monday, focusing on strategies to expedite the operationalization of the Kokologho Integrated Pharmaceutical Technopole and rejuvenate the Bobo-Dioulasso Oil Cluster. These initiatives are pivotal for enhancing Burkina Faso's health and food sovereignty.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Oudraogo presided over the session, which aligns with the country's ongoing efforts to bolster economic autonomy. The Prime Minister emphasized Burkina Faso's commitment to break away from dependency models to build an economy reliant on its resources.

The session concentrated on two primary themes. Firstly, the acceleration of the Kokologho Integrated Pharmaceutical Technopole aims to establish it as a cornerstone of health sovereignty and a catalyst for executing the 2026-2030 National Development Plan. The Prime Minister highlighted that recent global health crises have underscored the necessity for national capacity in producing essential medicines and health products. However, he acknowledged delays in the technopole's implementation and urged committee members to suggest actionable measures to expedite its completion.

The second theme addressed the revitalization of the Bobo-Dioulasso oil mill cluster to boost national production of quality edible oil and reduce reliance on imports. Prime Minister Oudraogo expressed that developing this sector will enhance food security, protect household purchasing power, create jobs, and generate wealth for the national economy. He urged participants to exhibit rigor, responsibility, and a patriotic spirit, stating that "the time for repeated diagnoses is over; it is time for determined action, collective responsibility, and the concrete translation of our resolutions."

Minister of Economy and Finance, Aboubakar Nacanabo, elaborated that the joint 2025-2026 session of the National Steering Committee for Growth Poles provided an opportunity to evaluate the results of existing poles and identify areas needing correction, in line with the Prime Minister's directives. Concerning the Bobo-Dioulasso Oil Mill Cluster, established in 2014, he noted that it improves edible oil availability but still only meets about 30% of national needs. Recommendations were made to enhance its governance, expand the membership of oil mills, and diversify the raw materials used.

For the Kokologho Integrated Pharmaceutical Technopole (Faso Pharma), which currently meets less than 10% of the country's pharmaceutical needs, Minister Nacanabo stressed the importance of accelerating the project through increased funding mobilization. He also mentioned that discussions have extended to other growth hubs, with the technical committee tasked to collaborate with various stakeholders to propose the development of new strategic hubs.