Burkina Faso

Bakou Logistics is a freight-by-lorry company settled in Burkina-Faso. Several dozens of trucks freighted by Bakou convey cotton, oil and gas between Burkina-Faso and the Guinea Gulf. The company beats a fierce local competition thanks to its high security and probity standards lately rewarded by the Best Transporter Award from Total Burkina.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Mamadou Traoré’s father also worked in the cargo industry. After he graduated in Finance from HEC Belgium, Mamadou worked for Alstom from 2001 to 2006 as a Commercial Manager in Liège. He then decided to head back to his native country and to start his own business inspired by his family inheritance. Bakou Logistics’ success owns a lot to his father’s experience but Mamadou Traoré quickly took the lead and bred a brand new spirit within the profession

PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P

I&P committed alongside with Bakou Logistics

• To undertake technical missions in order to improve the GIS

• To bring the capital needed in the fleet expansion

• To enhance financial and auditing offices in the company

KEY IMPACTS

• 35 jobs created including 30 truck drivers with increased social conditions

• Incentives leading to the drivers empowerment through the purchase of their own trucks

• Emergence of a freight local leader, independent from international firms

• Improvement of local standards in terms of environment, social and governance themes

ACEP Burkina is a MFI specialized in the financing of micro companies and very small enterprises existing in towns and close suburbs. Granted credits are mainly used to finance required working capital and investments.

I&P and ACEP International which are old partners have decided to partner in 2008 to try to start a microfinance institution like ACEP in the country. In spite of a preexisting  important mutual fund present in town zone, small entrepreneurs remain hardly linked to microfinance. Besides, it does not exist for the moment in Burkina Faso, a microfinance institution specialized in individual credit with an effective and appropriate technique of credit risk analysis towards very small companies. 

Financings trough subventions have been secured from the French Agency of Development then an agreement has been obtained from the ministry of finances in June 2012. The microfinance institution has started its activities in October 2012. 

PARTNERSHIP WTH I&P

I&P is committed alongside ACEP Burkina to:

• Write the business plan and constitute the round table

• Support ACEP in the research of external funding to extend its portfolio

• Contribute to reinforce the skills of the management team through a technical assistance program

KEY IMPACTS

• ACEP Burkina will bring an offer adapted to the financing of town small entrepreneurs

• Set up a health coverage and a CSR policy, as well as a road safety plan