Ouagadougou: The Commissioner General of the Burkina Faso Excellence and Entrepreneurship Prize (PEEB AWARDS), Komi Abdoul Fataph, announced the 4th edition of the event dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship and supporting innovative SMEs, SMIs, and start-ups will take place on May 30 and 31, 2026, at the banquet hall of Ouaga 2000.

According to Burkina Information Agency, several prizes will be awarded at the event, including the prestigious Thomas Sankara Grand Prize, prizes for builders of the regional economy from the 17 regions, 27 prizes for SMEs/SMIs, and 50 certificates of recognition for start-ups and promoters of innovative projects. The best SME is set to receive one million CFA francs, while the best start-up will receive 500,000 CFA francs. In collaboration with the Commercial Bank of Burkina Faso (BCB), selected SMEs and start-ups will also benefit from free bank accounts to enhance their financial inclusion.

The 4th edition of the PEEB AWARDS is scheduled under the chairmanship of the Minister in charge of Industry and is themed "Accelerating industrialization: a strategic lever for the economic sovereignty of Burkina Faso." The event is expected to gather more than 500 participants from Burkina Faso and several partner countries.

The Commissioner General, Komi Abdoul Fataph, conveyed that the initiative, led by "United Youth for the Development of Burkinabe Entrepreneurship" in collaboration with Sahel Tech Innovation Labs, aims to bolster the promotion of local businesses and encourage their structuring.

Acha Zerbo, the president of the organizing committee (PCO), mentioned that the selection of candidates will be based on socio-economic impact, innovation, governance, quality of services, and digital communication. She also highlighted that the PEEB AWARDS 2026 will feature conferences, masterclasses, B2B meetings, and a "PEEB Village" designed to foster innovation and business opportunities.

A strategic meeting is also planned to bring together economic players, banks, and institutions to deliberate on SME financing, added the PCO.