Denmark, Burkina Faso Strengthen Economic Ties

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Denmark’s Minister for Development Cooperation, Ulla Tørnæs, yesterday met with Burkina Faso’s Minister of Economy, Finance and Development, Rosine Sori-Coulibaly.

The meeting was the newly appointed minister’s first meeting with a foreign minister, thus affirming the special partnership between Burkina Faso and Denmark, which so far has lasted for over 30 years.

“The Minister of Economy, Finance and Developments visit confirms the close cooperation between Denmark and Burkina Faso on development and stability in Burkina Faso and the wider Sahel region. Since the popular uprising in October 2014, Burkina Faso has, despite the fact that the country continues to face challenges, undergone a positive development towards strengthening democracy.

“It underlines the robustness of the Burkinabe civil society making Burkina Faso a role model for the whole region and the African continent.

“Denmark will continue its close partnership with Burkina Faso, and work to ensure that the Burkinabe population experience the improvements in their daily lives that their efforts for a democratic transition gave them hope and expectations for,” says Ulla Tørnæs.

An important step was taken in April this year when Denmark and Burkina Faso during the visit of the Crown Princess and the Foreign Minister to the country signed a new agreement for development cooperation for the period 2016 – 2020 of 7700 million Danish Kroner in the areas of human rights and stability, water and sanitation, and economic growth in the agricultural sector.

“Democracy in Burkina Faso is important for ensuring stability in the country and in the wider Sahel region. Stability in the wider Sahel region is important for Europe and Denmark.

“We have many common challenges – particularly irregular migration, organized crime and violent extremism – all of which a democratic and stable Burkina Faso can help find solutions to.

“Therefore it is very important to me that we continue to support the positive development in Burkina Faso,” says Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs after yesterday’s meeting.