New Delhi, Mar 3 (IANS): A government delegation from Burkina Faso is coming this month to prospect for Indian partners for proposed mega infrastructure projects in the rapidly developing West African nation.
In his message to the ninth CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership, to be held here March 17- 19, Burkina Faso's ambassador Idriss Raoua Ouderago has invited captains of Indian industry to meet with Burkinabe government officials and business delegates.
A delegation of Burkinabe business will be visiting India to take part in the 2nd India Engineering Sourcing Show March 14-16 in Mumbai organised by the EEPC (formerly Engineering Export Promotion Council) with support from the Indo-African Chamber of Commerce and Industries as well in the CII-EXIM Bank Conclave to follow.
Ouderago said Burkinabe government officials will interact with Indian industry for partnering in various projects like low-cost housing, bus procurement, hydro power and construction of professional training institutes and computer centres.
The ambassador said the government of Burkina Faso under its Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Sustainable Development Programme, has launched large projects for highways, railways, pipelines and rural electrification, as well as the Donsin International Airport and Ouessa Dam projects.
The Burkina Faso initiative comes at a time when India is looking to step up its relations and economic engagement with the west African region. Burkina Faso has Mali, Niger and Ghana as among its neighbouring countries.
Bilateral trade between India and Burkina Faso was at $103.21 million in 2011-12. The bilateral trade between April and September of the current fiscal stood at $42.70 million.