2008 Commercial Guide
Chapter 1 - Doing Business in Burkina Faso
Chapter 1-2 Market Challenges
Because Burkina Faso is a landlocked country, it is greatly affected by the politics of its neighbors. The country is connected by rail to Abidjan, 1,150 kilometers (712 mi) away, a modern port city and capital of the region's economic "elephant" - Cote d'Ivoire. In 2002, this railway was closed, as a result of the military rebellion in Cote d’Ivoire. The crisis in Cote d’Ivoire had a severe impact on the Burkinabe economy due to the closure of the railway as well as the delay in payment of remittances from the estimated 4 million Burkinabe working in Cote d’Ivoire. The railway reopened in 2004 and now offers cargo and limited passenger services. Burkina Faso imports fertilizers, cement, building materials, petroleum goods, and foodstuffs through the port of Abidjan and also uses the port to export cotton, shea nuts, leather and skins, and livestock. During the crisis, Burkina Faso was forced to diversify the ports used for international trade to include those in the neighboring countries of Benin (Cotonou), Togo (Lome), and Ghana (Tema).