Ouagadougou: The government is taking significant steps to boost startups and competitiveness clusters by proposing the establishment of a Special Contribution for Research and Innovation (CORI). The Council of Ministers, in their meeting on Thursday, examined a draft supplementary law to the 2026 Finance Law and approved its transmission to the Transitional Legislative Assembly.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the draft aims to introduce the CORI to fund research and innovation activities in specific sectors. This initiative is expected to support the development of startups and competitiveness clusters by focusing on the taxation of certain imported goods. The proposed measure seeks to generate revenue while simultaneously protecting domestic production.

In addition to the introduction of the CORI, amendments to the General Tax Code were also discussed. These amendments pertain to the registration of hydrocarbon purchase contracts and the exemption from withholding tax on services provided by state public establishments (EPE), as stipulated by decree. Furthermore, the amendments address the management of exemptions not explicitly provided for by law.