Manga, The secretary general of the Zoundwéogo province, Innocent Ouattara, urged, on Friday, the populations of the South-Central region to “prioritize the consumption of goods and services made in Burkina Faso” to boost the income of producers and, in turn, the local economy.
“In this month of October which is dedicated to the promotion of 'let's consume locally', I urge you to intensify actions to promote products made in Burkina and those of the entire UEMOA with a patriotic burst by encouraging on the other hand by favoring the consumption of goods and services made in Burkina Faso,” declared the secretary general of the Zoundwéogo province, Innoncents Ouattara.
Mr. Ouattara, who spoke during the opening ceremony of the regional celebration of the 4th edition of the Month of Local Consumption (MCL), in Manga, brought to the public the message of the governor of the Center-South region, Yvette Nacoulma.
Based on the definition of the concept by the UEMOA, he recalled that the local product is “all national products including goods and services and products from UEMOA member countries”. Their consumption has benefits in more than one way, according to him.
“Consuming these products means stimulating the emergence of the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors, increasing the volume of processed raw materials, significantly increasing their market share, creating income for populations, attracting more productive investments, increasing workforce, reducing the poverty rate and boost the development of the countries of the Union,” he said.
For the regional director of Industrial Development, Commerce, Crafts and Small and Medium Enterprises of the Center-South, Guillaume Dofini, “the consumption of local products unlike imported products has added value because it has effects of training on the country's economy in general.
On the occasion of the regional celebration of the 4th edition of the MCL, exhibition stands were set up with a host of artisanal products including food, clothing and cosmetics.
“This celebration is really a godsend because it is through these types of activities that people will better discover local potential,” rejoiced the regional president of the Chamber of Trades and Crafts of Burkina Faso. South-Central, Hermann Zoungrana.
To further increase the sale of local products, Mr. Zoungrana called for more commitment from the government to the effective application of texts in this area.
“If I take for example Order No. 2017-002-PM-CAB relating to the purchase of local food products by state structures as part of their supply, we do not feel its application on the ground. You take for example the workshops and other meetings held in town, we do not see local products highlighted as required by the decree,” explained the director of the Manga STRACOPA rice factory, Luc Kazagabou.
He therefore calls on the government to pay greater attention to correcting these inadequacies and for populations to make the consumption of local products a priority so that the local economy does better for the benefit of all.
Source: Burkina Information Agency