Burkina Faso Celebrates Launch of First Citizen-Funded Tomato Factory
Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso – In a momentous celebration of economic self-reliance, Burkina Faso inaugurated its first tomato processing factory entirely financed by its citizens. The state-of-the-art facility, named SOBTO, officially opened its doors on November 30, 2024, marking a significant step towards Burkina Faso’s vision of endogenous development.
"For this project to see the light of day, it accepted the patriotic commitment of the Burkinabe, the interior and the diaspora, which has been widely accepted to the community entrepreneurship program through popular tenure,” said Burkina Faso President Captain Ibrahim Traoré, praising the nation’s collective effort. “Endogenous development is a doctrine. Everyone has to do their part.”
The SOBTO factory, spearheaded by the APEC Community Entrepreneurship Promotion Group and built on a spacious 5-hectare plot, represents a testament to the power of collective investment. With an estimated cost of 7.5 billion CFA francs, the factory boasts modern facilities, including:
-
A modern R+1 administrative building
-
Spacious dining and staff facilities
-
A sophisticated hospital open to both staff and the surrounding community
-
A 1,200 square meter industrial building housing production equipment capable of processing 100 tons of tomatoes daily
-
Two spacious warehouses for raw materials and finished goods
-
A reliable weighbridge for precise fresh tomato weighing
- A dedicated maintenance workshop
This impressive infrastructure is poised to transform Burkina Faso’s tomato industry.
"An average annual turnover of 8 billion is expected over the first five years of operation. This financial performance will strengthen the factory’s contribution to the national economy and improve the living conditions of the surrounding communities," explained Karim Traoré, CEO of APEC.
SOBTO, which takes its name from the Bôbô language word "A’diaa" meaning "what happiness," is projected to create 180 permanent direct jobs and 3,000 indirect jobs, injecting a significant economic boost into the region.
Aziz Nignan, Chairman of the board of directors of Bâtir l’Avenir, APEC’s technical partner, expressed his enthusiasm for the factory’s potential impact, stating, "Through this factory we not only make products but we also create a new way of thinking about our development. Landlord development based on a helpful society where everyone benefits directly from the results of their efforts. This factory is only a milestone victory because much remains to be done to effectively industrialize Burkina.”
The launch of SOBTO symbolizes Burkina Faso’s determination to control its own economic destiny and inspire a new model of development based on citizen participation and local empowerment.
The factory’s initial output will focus on processing local Burkinabe tomatoes into high-quality tomato paste under the "A’diaa" brand. However, the long-term goal includes expanding production to meet international demands and showcasing the quality of Burkinabe produce on the global stage.
