(Ecofin Agency) - Burkina Faso is looking to deepen its cooperation with Qatar by exploring new bilateral opportunities. On March 24, 2025, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation, and Burkinabe Abroad, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, met with his Qatari counterpart, Sultan Ben Saad Al-Muraiki, to discuss potential collaborations.

“We are focused on building mutually beneficial partnerships that will drive the development of key sectors like agriculture, energy, mining, and industry. Burkina Faso has the potential to be a valuable partner in these areas, creating win-win opportunities for both sides,” stated Minister Traoré.

The Qatari Minister encouraged Burkinabe authorities and business leaders to take part in major economic events held in Qatar, highlighting these events as ideal platforms to showcase investment opportunities in Burkina Faso.

Currently, trade between the two nations is minimal. In 2024, Burkina Faso’s imports from Qatar were valued at $400,000, while exports were almost nonexistent, according to Trademap.

The country faces significant challenges, including a lack of economic diversification and struggles in critical sectors like healthcare and education, both severely impacted by the ongoing crisis. These areas require substantial investment and new partnerships to improve.

With poverty rates hovering around 40% and a ranking of 185th out of 193 countries in the 2023-2024 Human Development Index (HDI) by the UNDP, Burkina Faso must secure additional resources to address its social investment gaps. In 2023, the World Health Organization reported that 3.8 million people in the country had lost access to healthcare. Meanwhile, the World Bank noted that 820,865 students, including 396,716 girls, were denied education due to the closure of 5,330 schools.

Relations between Burkina Faso and Qatar have steadily grown over the past 15 years, with agreements and memorandums of cooperation signed in areas like tourism and culture. In 2010, a significant agreement was reached in these fields, and in 2021, a radiotherapy center funded by the Emir of Qatar through the Qatari Fund for Development was inaugurated in Burkina Faso at a cost of 7.7 billion CFA francs (about $13.1 million).

Qatar has recently sought to expand its presence in Africa through economic, humanitarian, and diplomatic initiatives. The country played a key role in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) crisis, organizing a meeting between DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame to discuss a potential ceasefire aimed at ending the violence.