SIPEN-UEMOA 2026: Ouagadougou Hosts the Major Digital Economy Gathering

Under the high patronage of His Excellency Mr. Jean Emmanuel Rimtalba OUEDRAOGO and the sponsorship of Mr. Idrissa NASSA, President of COGEF, the fourth edition of the UEMOA International Exhibition of Digital Economy Professionals (SIPEN-UEMOA 2026) will take place from 14 to 16 July 2026 in Ouagadougou.

Placed under the theme “Rebuilding the digital economy within WAEMU: artificial intelligence, FinTech, and inclusive finance,” this high-level regional meeting brings together public decision-makers, experts, businesses, startups, investors, and partners to discuss the major challenges related to digital transformation and the future of the digital economy in West Africa.

Institutional partner of this strategic event, the Burkinabè employers’ association reaffirms its commitment alongside digital stakeholders to promote the emergence of an innovative, competitive ecosystem that supports business growth.

The official opening ceremony, held on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, was chaired by Dr. Aminata ZERBO/SABANÉ, Minister of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications. It was attended by several national and regional authorities, including representatives from countries in the sub-region, illustrating the shared determination of the UEMOA member states to strengthen their cooperation in the digital sector.

In his remarks on behalf of the President of COGEF, Mr. Achille OUEDRAOGO, Secretary in charge of Youth Entrepreneurship, praised the vision advanced by ROPTIC, FED-NUMÉRIQUE, the UEMOA Commission, and the Government of Burkina Faso, which has made SIPEN-UEMOA a major platform for reflection on the future of the digital economy in the sub-region. He stressed that current economic dynamics require a new paradigm: “the economic power of nations no longer rests solely on their natural resources. It now depends on their ability to produce knowledge, master technologies, leverage data, and innovate continuously.”

Continuing, he highlighted the need for collective mobilization to support the digital ambitions of Africa’s youth, businesses, and states. “Our shared responsibility now is to give them the means to achieve their ambitions. We must invest more in innovation, digital infrastructure, training, research, and artificial intelligence,” he said.

At the end of the opening ceremony, Dr Aminata ZERBO/SABANÉ, accompanied by the event’s partners, visited the exhibition booths to discover the innovative solutions developed by digital sector stakeholders. The innovations presented highlight the potential of African companies and startups in key areas such as artificial intelligence, FinTech, cybersecurity, the digitalization of services, and financial inclusion. For the Burkinabè employers’ association, this meeting fully reflects the expectations of the private sector, which calls for an environment conducive to innovation, competitiveness, and the acceleration of companies’ digital transformation.