Ouagadougou:The President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, inaugurated the 18th edition of the Ouagadougou International Arts and Crafts Fair (SIAO) on Friday. The event, which runs from October 30 to November 8, 2026, aims to position crafts as essential to African industrialization by promoting local know-how and enhancing the continent's economic sovereignty.
According to Burkina Information Agency, President Traoré highlighted the need for craftsmanship to evolve from a historical legacy to a cornerstone of Africa's industrial future. He urged for industrialization that aligns with African realities, resources, and expertise.
The President's vision, articulated by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, Serge Gnaniodem Poda, is to develop a structured and modern craft industry capable of transforming raw materials into essential products, moving towards industrialization. This initiative aims to elevate artisans from modest workshops to managers of modern production units, fostering job creation and global market competitiveness.
President Traoré emphasized that modernity should enhance, not oppose, traditional know-how, transforming African cultural heritage into economic wealth. He stressed that economic sovereignty is integral to political sovereignty, highlighting Burkina Faso's initiatives such as the National Center for Artisanal Cotton Processing and the Textos BF industrial complex.
The President encouraged local consumption as an act of economic patriotism and placed this ambition within the context of the Confederation of Sahel States and African aspirations to engage globally. He advocated for developing African value chains, strengthening intra-continental trade, and creating supportive markets for local producers.
To international partners, Traoré reaffirmed Africa's openness to cooperation while advocating for partnerships that respect African dignity and contribute to development. He called on artisans to organize, innovate, and improve skills and urged manufacturers and investors to recognize artisans as significant economic partners.
The fair, themed "African crafts and industrialization what synergy for a better organization and valorization of local products and cultural heritage," serves as a platform for integrating artisanal productions into the continent's industrial dynamics. Ghana is this year's guest country of honour, with Mali and Niger as special guests.