Coronavirus in Burkina Faso: economic measures to support growth

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As elsewhere in the world, African countries have been taking important economic measures for several days to cope with the coronavirus. The President of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, announced measures taken in favor of companies and to cushion the social difficulties caused by the current health crisis.

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A reduction in the growth rate by more than four points this year will be the direct consequence of the new coronavirus on the economy of Burkina Faso. Despite the jihadist insecurity that the country of upright men has known for more than two years, he predicted growth of 6.3% for 2020, but this was before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. A performance which should therefore fall to 2%.

To achieve this forecast, while economic activity is currently slowing down , the existing economic fabric must be protected as much as possible, in particular by avoiding bankruptcies. The Burkinabé State has thus set up a fund of 100 billion CFA francs, intended to revive businesses in difficulty and a solidarity fund for the benefit of actors in the informal sector (77 billion CFA francs).

In detail, the State postpones up to four months the payment of taxes for businesses, some could even benefit from exemption; in any case, you will have to request it. The Burkinabè government has also taken a series of temporary social measures, such as reducing or paying for household water and electricity bills.

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• Burkina Faso
• Coronavirus
• Economic crisis

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