Madar (Ouagadougou) - Burkina Faso's transitional president, Captain Ibrahim Traore, opened the 18th Ouagadougou International Crafts Fair (SIAO), held from October 30 to November 8, 2026, according to the government information service.
"The vision is for our crafts to progress little by little towards industrialisation," Traore said after cutting the ribbon, adding that "we cannot have metallurgy, steelmaking (...) without mastering the material, without art." He urged African artisans to be more creative and to "never give up".
Delivering the opening speech on the president's behalf, Industry, Commerce and Crafts Minister Serge Gnaniodem Poda described crafts as a tool of sovereignty: "True independence is also built in our workshops, our fields, our factories and in the daily choices of our consumers."
Ghana is guest of honour at this edition; its minister of trade, agribusiness and industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, welcomed the honour paid to her country.
