CASE STUDIES FROM AFRICA

Inclusion of Cultural Services in Export Development Programmes (ICSED
Programmes)
Cognisant of the fact that Burkina Faso’s economic operators have not yet exploited the full
potential of trade with other countries, the government has designed a Trade Promotion
Strategy and an associated action plan. With African Development Bank support, the
government has also prepared a national policy on quality and a related action plan, as well as a
sector policy on the promotion of trade, industry, and handicrafts and its implementation plan.
Furthermore, it conducted an organisational audit of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and
Handicrafts (MICA) that revealed the institutional weaknesses of the ministry and defined its
new structures by area of competence (trade, industry, crosscutting business promotion
activities, and handicrafts). A capacity building plan was also prepared for the ministry.
During implementation of the reforms resulting from the above studies, the ICSED Programmes
will support the following measures: (i) conduct of a study on new production sectors to
broaden the production base of the economy, (ii) implementation of the trade promotion policy
action plan with a view to increasing the volume of exports, (iii) setting-up of a Standardisation,
Certification and Metrology Authority to promote the quality of Burkina Faso exports, (iv)
setting-up of an Export Promotion Support Fund (FAPEX) to support private exporters, and (v)
transformation of the National Foreign Trade Authority (ONAC) into an Exports Promotion
Agency (APEX). To improve the business environment and continue providing reform support
in this area, the programme will support the following measures: (a) establishment of structures
and preparation of rural land tenure guides and tools, (b) establishment of a one-stop shop for
foreign trade using the ORBUS system, 59 and (c) adoption of a strategy to establish publicprivate
partnerships and its action plan. To help implement the measures adopted under this
first component of the Programme, the technical and operational capacities of MICA have to be
developed based on the recommendations of the organisational audit conducted in 2010.
Training and/or Other Support Programs for Cultural Services
Coinciding with the implementation of the UNESCO convention on the protection and
promotion of diversity of cultural expressions, the OIF has sought to reinforce its activities for
the creation of a favourable environment for diversity of cultural expression in which all
cultural expressions could genuinely develop and thrive; OIF indicated that it was open to
discussing amendments. Within this framework, the OIF and the government of Burkina Faso
have signed a cooperation agreement for the period 2012–2015 to reinforce the capacities of
policy and decision makers, cultural operators, and certain domains of culture and cultural
industries:
Strengthening the capacities of governance at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Diversifying the sources of financing of cultural programmes and activities and
significantly increasing of their resources
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The ORBUS System is designed to facilitate foreign trade procedures by introducing e-trade among parties to
foreign trade transactions. The system relies on technological infrastructure and a services mechanism. It has
recently been renamed the Virtual Import/Export Operations Information System (SYLVIE).
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