Burkina Faso: Digitalisation – a driver of competitiveness for SMEs and trade
The digitalization of Burkina Faso’s economy has now become an essential pillar of development. Driven by a young population and more than 5.7 million mobile Internet users, the digital transformation is redrawing economic opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and commerce. The State has undertaken structural reforms to support this transformation, but challenges persist.
The government has multiplied initiatives to facilitate the adoption of digital technology by businesses.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Burkina Faso (CCI-BF) organized open days on paperless administrative procedures, aimed at encouraging SMEs to embrace these tools.
Platforms such as eSINTAX for electronic tax filing and certified electronic invoicing, launched in January 2026, are modernizing business management and strengthening transparency.
A university study reveals that the adoption of electronic tax filing increases tax declarations by 41 to 43% and improves trust in the tax system.
In terms of payments, Mobile Money is establishing itself as a lever for financial inclusion, compensating for the low rate of traditional banking.
Local solutions are emerging, such as Wefafa, a Burkinabe super-app that connects customers, merchants, and delivery drivers via WhatsApp and Mobile Money, already counting more than 1,100 shops and 900 delivery drivers.
Despite these advances, the level of digitalization among SMEs remains low. A doctoral thesis defended in June 2026 at Thomas Sankara University reveals that only 2,794 companies were operating in the digital sector out of approximately 99,300 inventoried in 2019, or a rate of 2.81%, far from the global rate estimated at 75% in 2025. Digitalization mainly concerns commercial and communication activities, while internal processes remain largely undigitized.
The obstacles identified include the low level of digital training among managers, unequal access to high-speed Internet, mistrust of cyberfraud risks, and a preference for cash on delivery.
UNCTAD also highlights the absence of a dedicated e-commerce strategy, costly logistics infrastructure, and limited access to financing.
To fill these gaps, Burkina Faso is relying on training programs in digital marketing and artificial intelligence, such as those of PREE-CE, which equip entrepreneurs on Facebook, WhatsApp Business, and TikTok.
The national roadmap on AI (2026-2030) aims to make artificial intelligence a tool serving local realities, particularly in agriculture, health, and education.
By combining public investment, manager training, and adapted local solutions, Burkina Faso is charting the path toward inclusive digitalization, capable of strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs and integrating the country into the global digital economy.
Papa IBRAHIMA
