According to metal construction engineer Daniel Nassa, Burkina Faso cannot succeed in its industrial endeavors without complete control over the construction of its own factories. In an interview with Burkina24, this expert, trained in Germany and France, argues for a break with dependence on imported industrial infrastructure and for greater development of local skills.
Daniel Nassa's assessment is unequivocal. Industrialization cannot succeed without technical mastery of industrial construction. He is particularly concerned to see the country moving towards a model where factories are designed and manufactured abroad before simply being assembled locally.
According to him, this trend risks transforming Burkina Faso into a mere consumer of industrial infrastructure, with a negative impact on skilled employment. In the long run, he warns, the country could end up with only technicians responsible for assembly, without engineers capable of designing industrial facilities.
“ The problem isn’t the finished product, but the elements necessary for that product to exist, ” the engineer emphasizes. At the heart of this thinking, the metal structure occupies a strategic position. Daniel Nassa describes it as a “master” material, due to its lightness, modularity, and ability to adapt to the evolution of industrial infrastructures.
However, he highlights a notable difference with German industrial culture. In Germany, he explains, quality is a non-negotiable requirement, whereas in Burkina Faso, technical decisions are often dictated primarily by budgetary constraints.
According to the expert, national actors must develop a genuine "technical pride", consisting of adapting modern technologies to the climatic, economic and normative realities of the country.
The engineer also mentions several obstacles to industrialization. He cites in particular the state of certain industrial zones, such as Kossodo, where basic infrastructure remains insufficient.
According to him, the taxes paid by industrialists should be reinvested in the development and infrastructure of these areas in order to improve the conditions for businesses to set up operations.
From an administrative standpoint, he also considers it inappropriate for a factory to follow the same procedures as a residential building permit. He believes that bureaucratic red tape and land disputes are obstacles that hinder industrial investment.
To support the current momentum of industrialization, Daniel Nassa proposes three priority actions. First, establish specialized service points for industrial projects to expedite procedures and facilitate tax exemptions. Second, reduce interest rates and foster close collaboration between banks, investors, and engineering firms to ensure the technical soundness of funded projects.
Secondly, strengthen the protection and promotion of local experts so that trained engineers can find opportunities within the country.
Finally, the engineer points out that industrialization relies first and foremost on human skills. For him, while the agri-food sector remains strategic for Burkina Faso, the country's true wealth lies in its human resources.
" It is not wealth that makes the man, it is the man who makes wealth, " he concluded, calling on the authorities to place training and skills development at the heart of the national industrial strategy.