BOBO-DIOULASSO - On Friday, February 16, 2024, Serge Poda, the Minister of Industrial Development, Trade, Crafts, and Small and Medium Enterprises, inaugurated the groundbreaking ceremony for the National Support Center for Artisanal Cotton Processing (CNATAC) in Bobo-Dioulasso. The center aims to enhance the technical and entrepreneurial abilities of artisans, fostering a competitive sector that generates high-value and decent employment opportunities.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the construction of CNATAC marks a significant step towards strengthening the artisanal cotton industry. The project, a collaborative effort between the government of Burkina Faso and the Republic of Italy, facilitated through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, is divided into four construction lots, totaling an investment of 3.5 billion FCFA. The construction is expected to be completed within eight months.
The first lot, costing 815,248,801 F CFA, includes various infrastructural components such as a workshop, store block, and water facilities. The second lot, valued at 323,816,931 F CFA, encompasses administrative spaces and public utilities. The third lot focuses on refurbishing existing structures for 240,151,089 CFA francs, and the fourth, at 177,989,698 F CFA, involves technical premises and energy supplies.
Minister Poda emphasized that CNATAC will be more than a physical establishment; it is envisioned as an innovation hub offering advanced training, technical advice, and support services to empower artisans in adapting to the dynamic economic landscape. "This center will act as a catalyst for the emergence of new cotton processing techniques, thereby improving the quality of our products and strengthening our position in national and international markets," Poda stated.
The facility will host tailor-made training sessions in weaving, dyeing, tailoring, business management, and IT, aiming to promote Burkinabè cotton. Poda urged the construction firms to adhere to the project timelines and ensure quality workmanship.
Germaine Compaoré, president of the Chamber of Craft Trades of Burkina Faso (CMA-BF), highlighted that once operational, the center would become a benchmark for professional training and apprenticeship in textile crafts. It aims to provide artisans with a conducive environment to enhance their skills in weaving, dyeing, and sewing. "This center constitutes a real opportunity for many women and men, as it will not only help artisans contribute to a substantial transformation of Burkinabè cotton but also offer quality cotton-based by-products for the happiness of the populations," Compaoré remarked.
The CNATAC is aligned with the current needs of artisans and the objectives of the CMA-BF in terms of professionalism, quality improvement of artisanal products, and enhancing the profitability of the craft sector, serving as a model of professional entrepreneurship.