The Embassy of Canada to Burkina Faso marks 60 years of bilateral relations

Workshop on Canada’s new Strategy on Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) Abroad with the Minister of Mines and Ambassador Hermann

The year 2022 marked the 60th anniversary of relations between Burkina Faso and Canada. In that year, Burkina Faso faced serious security and humanitarian crises, including 2 coups d’état. The Embassy of Canada to Burkina Faso chose to take a broad and sober approach to marking the milestone.

Two trade workshops highlighted the importance of responsible trade for economic recovery. These were organized with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Burkina Faso CSR Forum. Stakeholders and the ministers responsible for trade and mines participated in the events. Leading Canadian companies showcased their know-how and highlighted their central place in the Burkinabe industrial mining sector. Canada is the number one source of foreign private investments. Presentations included Canada’s new Strategy for Responsible Business Conduct Abroad. They displayed tools and mechanisms to promote sound governance of the sector and maximise its positive impacts on local economic development.

Group photo of the Diplomatic Day organizers at the INHEI [institute for advanced international studies]

A diplomatic day on the theme of 60 years of bilateral cooperation and friendship was organized with the school of Burkinabe diplomacy, the Institute for advanced international studies (INHEI). The Delegate Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Transport were in attendance. Some 15 partner organizations in Canadian international cooperation presented their work. They exchanged views with over 300 students on the results of cooperation and key concepts such as feminism and positive masculinity.

Our experts at Headquarters created a visual identity for the occasion to increase the anniversary’s visibility. Throughout the year, the visual identity was used during events and in the Embassy’ social media messages. This included personal testimonials from Burkinabe and Canadians on the longstanding bilateral relationship with the hashtag #Canada60BurkinaFaso.