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Invest in Burkina Faso
A short guide for companies expanding into Burkina Faso: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Burkina Faso at a glance
Population
24.1 million
Population was 24,074,580 people in 2025.
Source: World Bank, WDI population, Burkina Faso, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$27.6 billion
GDP was US$27.6 billion in 2025, in current United States dollars.
Source: World Bank, WDI GDP in current dollars, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$1,148
GDP per person was US$1,148 in 2025, in current United States dollars.
Source: World Bank, WDI GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
5.3%
Real GDP growth was 5.3 percent in 2025.
Source: World Bank, WDI real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
3.0%
Consumer prices rose 3.0 percent over twelve months to August 2026, in the central bank's economic note for the West African union.
Source: BCEAO, West African union economic note, September 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of August 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$311.9 million
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$311.9 million in 2025.
Source: UNCTADstat, foreign direct investment flows and stock (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the CFA franc (XOF), shared by the member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union.
Source: BCEAO, West African union economic note, September 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
ABIPEX, the investment and export promotion agency, was created by a decree adopted March 26, 2026, merging the investment agency ABI and the export agency APEX-Burkina.
Source: Burkina Faso Council of Ministers, March 26, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of March 26, 2026
Company formalities run through the MEBF's CEFORE counters, which handle registration at the national trade registry.
Source: MEBF, CEFORE company formalities page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
The Investment Code lets regulations restrict foreign direct investment in some sectors, and no published list of such sectors was found. Ask ABIPEX whether your sector is covered.
Source: Burkina Faso Investment Code, Law 038-2018/AN (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2018
Growth poles and special economic zones are sites the Council of Ministers delimits by decree under the 2018 Investment Code; no official list or count of them is published.
Source: Burkina Faso Investment Code, Law 038-2018/AN (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2018
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Burkina Faso
- Choose a legal form under the OHADA uniform acts and file the registration forms at a CEFORE counter.Maison de l'Entreprise du Burkina Faso (CEFORE)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: CCI-BF, legal information for investors (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Reserve the company name through the national trade registry file.Maison de l'Entreprise du Burkina Faso (FNRCCM)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: MEBF, national trade registry file page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Register for the unique financial identifier (IFU), a Ministry of Economy and Finance procedure listed under tax, finance and customs.Ministère de l'Économie et des Finances (MEF)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Service-public.gov.bf, IFU registration procedure (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Apply to the industry ministry for a setup authorization; under the Investment Code it is deemed granted after three months without an answer.Ministère de l'Industrie, du Commerce et de l'ArtisanatThree months, then deemed grantedOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Burkina Faso Investment Code, Law 038-2018/AN (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2018
Show 4 more set-up steps
- File for an Investment Code approval regime at the industry ministry, where approval is a joint order of the industry and finance ministers; ask ABIPEX for guidance.Commission nationale des investissements; Ministère de l'Industrie, du Commerce et de l'ArtisanatOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Burkina Faso Investment Code, Law 038-2018/AN (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2018
- For food and medicines, expect analysis and control by Faso FDA.Faso Food and Drug Administration (Faso FDA)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Burkina Faso Council of Ministers, March 12, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of March 12, 2026
- For mining, follow the Mining Code, Law 016-2024/ALT of July 18, 2024; a June 18, 2026 decree changed mining royalties.Ministère de l'Énergie, des Mines et des CarrièresOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Burkina Faso Council of Ministers, June 18, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of June 18, 2026
- Follow WAEMU Regulation 06/2024/CM/UEMOA and the BCEAO's 2025 instructions, including one on direct investment, for payments and transfers abroad.Banque Centrale des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (BCEAO)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: UMOA Banking Commission, external financial relations texts (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with DGD. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
Business formalities and support
MEBF
Maison de l'Entreprise du Burkina Faso
Runs company registration counters (CEFORE) and the national trade registry file, and advises small businesses.
Visit MEBF (opens in a new tab)Source: MEBF, CEFORE company formalities page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Meet requirements
Regional central bank
BCEAO
Banque Centrale des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest
Regional body
Issues the foreign exchange instructions on domiciling exports and bringing their proceeds home across the West African union.
Show 1 more organization
Government information service
SIG
Service d'Information du Gouvernement
Publishes Council of Ministers reports, where decrees on trade lists, agencies and investment rules appear.
Visit SIG (opens in a new tab)Source: Burkina Faso government, Council of Ministers reports page (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
DGD
Direction générale des douanes
Applies the 2025 Customs Code, including its settlement right for customs offenses.
Visit DGD (opens in a new tab)Source: Burkina Faso Council of Ministers, January 22, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of January 22, 2026
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
DGI
Direction générale des impôts
Is the tax directorate general of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the ministry that registers companies for the unique financial identifier (IFU).
Visit DGI (opens in a new tab)Source: Service-public.gov.bf, IFU registration procedure (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
National chamber of commerce
CCI-BF
Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie du Burkina Faso
Informs investors about the Investment Code, lists support structures and runs training centers.
Visit CCI-BF (opens in a new tab)Source: CCI-BF, legal information for investors (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Gold concentration
Gold was 82.3 percent of 2024 exports in UN Comtrade, and the statistics office puts it at 96.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025.
What to do: Compare your product with the other lines in the list, and read the destination caveat before you quote shares.
Sources: INSD, foreign trade note, fourth quarter 2025 (in French) (opens in a new tab); UN Comtrade, Burkina Faso exports by product, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Cotton under state control
On April 16, 2026 the Council of Ministers decided to nationalize SOFITEX by buying out its private shareholders.
What to do: Confirm purchase and export arrangements for cotton with the trade ministry before you sign sales.
Sources: Burkina Faso Council of Ministers, April 16, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab); Burkina Faso Council of Ministers, June 25, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of April 16, 2026
Currency and settlement
Exports above 20 million CFA francs go through an approved bank, and proceeds must come home within one month of the payment due date.
What to do: Agree payment terms with your bank before you sign a sales contract.
Source: BCEAO Instruction 03/07/2025/RFE on export domiciliation (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Reserved sectors
The Investment Code allows sector restrictions on foreign investment by regulation, and foreigners need an authorization to trade (AEC) before trading.
What to do: Ask ABIPEX and the trade ministry whether your activity is restricted before you decide on an investment.
Sources: Burkina Faso Investment Code, Law 038-2018/AN (in French) (opens in a new tab); Service-public.gov.bf, trading authorization for foreigners (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 5 more
Strategic enterprises law
A bill sent to the legislature on October 8, 2026 would bar privatization of strategic public enterprises and let the State take a stake in strategic enterprises.
What to do: Ask ABIPEX whether your project could be judged strategic before you agree ownership terms.
Source: Burkina Faso Council of Ministers, October 8, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 8, 2026
State role in mining
A June 18, 2026 decree changed mining taxes and royalties and promotes semi-mechanized mining for Burkinabè nationals.
What to do: Read the current Mining Code and its royalty decrees with a local advisor before you start a mining project.
Source: Burkina Faso Council of Ministers, June 18, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of June 18, 2026
Electricity
The 2025 United States investment climate summary says Burkina Faso imports nearly 70 percent of its electricity.
What to do: Ask the grid operator for supply terms before you commit to a power-heavy project.
Source: United States Commerce Department, Burkina Faso investment climate summary, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 13, 2025
Security conditions
The British foreign office advises against all travel to Burkina Faso because of terrorist attacks, kidnap and an unstable political situation.
What to do: Check each travel advisory and your insurer terms before staff travel.
Source: British foreign office, Burkina Faso travel advice, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Agency changes
The investment and export promotion agencies merged into ABIPEX in March 2026, and its own website was not found on the run date.
What to do: Confirm ABIPEX contact details and procedures with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Crafts.
Sources: Burkina Faso Council of Ministers, March 26, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab); Burkina Faso Council of Ministers, September 10, 2026 (in French) (opens in a new tab) · as of March 26, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
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Promote:Burkina Faso is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 30, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.