Learn about barriers to market entry and local requirements, i.e., things to be aware of when entering the market for this country.
Last Published: 4/5/2019

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country and relies on neighboring countries, particularly Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, and Ghana, for access to ports and to some extent its energy supply.  Since peace returned to Cote d’Ivoire in 2011, Abidjan has regained its status as the number one port for its neighbor to the north.  The port in Abidjan is 712 miles from Ouagadougou, and goods arriving in Abidjan take on average 7 days (not including time taken for formalities at the port or export control) to reach Burkina Faso’s capital.  Lomé (Togo) is the second-most important port for trade with Burkina Faso, while the port of Tema in Ghana is the third-most important port.

Though the government has made great strides in improving the regulatory environment for doing business in Burkina Faso, an unskilled and uneducated workforce, poor transportation infrastructure, periodic shortages of water and electricity, high energy costs, and a weak judicial system pose challenges for potential investors.

Burkina Faso’s official language is French, and English is not widely spoken.  U.S. companies seeking to do business in Burkina Faso often seek interpreter services.
 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.