Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09OUAGADOUGOU706
2009-09-04 11:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ouagadougou
Cable title:  

RUSSIAN BUSINESS PRESENCE - BURKINA FASO RESPONSE

Tags:  PINR UV RS ECON EINV 
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INFO LOG-00 EEB-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 DNI-00 DODE-00 
 DOTE-00 DS-00 EUR-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 VCI-00 H-00 
 TEDE-00 INR-00 L-00 MOFM-00 MOF-00 VCIE-00 NSAE-00 
 ISN-00 NSCE-00 OMB-00 NIMA-00 PA-00 PM-00 GIWI-00 
 PRS-00 P-00 ISNE-00 FMPC-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 
 TRSE-00 T-00 NCTC-00 IIP-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-00 
 G-00 SAS-00 FA-00 /000W

 
R 041123Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5359
C O N F I D E N T I A L OUAGADOUGOU 000706 


E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/31/2034
TAGS: PINR UV RS ECON EINV
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN BUSINESS PRESENCE - BURKINA FASO RESPONSE
(C-CI9-01825)

REF: (A) STATE 088241

Classified by CDA Samuel C. Laeuchli for reason 1.4 (c) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L OUAGADOUGOU 000706


E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/31/2034
TAGS: PINR UV RS ECON EINV
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN BUSINESS PRESENCE - BURKINA FASO RESPONSE
(C-CI9-01825)

REF: (A) STATE 088241

Classified by CDA Samuel C. Laeuchli for reason 1.4 (c) and (d)


1. (C) The Embassy sees little evidence of Russian economic
interest in Burkina Faso. To the best of our knowledge, there is no
large-scale Russian business presence, no significant Russian
investment, and very few Russian citizens currently residing in
Burkina Faso. Responses to Washington's query to establish a
baseline follow.


2. (U) Begin responses:


A. (C) IS THERE A RUSSIAN TRADE REPRESENTATION IN YOUR COUNTRY?

--Response: No. Officials in neither the local Chamber of Commerce
nor the National Office of External Trade are aware of any presence
of Russian trade officials. According to contacts within the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Burkina Faso and Russia signed several
agreements in the late 1960s. One of these concerned trade and
economic and technical cooperation, but werQever implemented.Q
AnotheQgreement included a Cultural and Scientific Agreement, but
Russia has long since closed its cultural center and stopped all
activities related to the agreement. Under a transportation
agreement, Aeroflot flew to Burkina Faso, but also stopped servicing
Ouagadougou several years ago.


B. (U) WHAT MAJOR RUSSIAN COMPANIES OPERATE IN YOUR COUNTRY AND IN
WHAT BUSINESS SECTORS?

--Response: None


C. (U) HOW MUCH REVENUE ARE RUSSIAN COMPANIES BRINGING IN?

--Response: N/A


D. (U) HOW MUCH RUSSIAN INVESTMENT IS OCCURING; IN WHAT SECTORS; IS
IT GROWING?

--Response: None of any significance known to the Embassy or
contacts.


E. (U) IS YOUR COUNTRY ACTIVELY SEEKING RUSSIAN INVESTMENT AND/OR
RUSSIAN TOURISM?

--Response: No


F. (C) ROUGHLY HOW MANY RUSSIAN CITIZENS RESIDE IN YOUR COUNTRY?

--Response: Very few. A contact at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
had no official estimate of Russian presence in Burkina Faso. Many
Russians currently residing in Burkina Faso are the spouses of
Burkinabe students who completed their studies in Russia. Since the
closure of the Russian Cultural Center in Ouagadougou, and the
Embassy of Burkina Faso in Moscow, the number of officials has also
dropped. The Russian Embassy responsible for Burkina Faso is located
in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.

LAEUCHLI