Nearly 400 shea industry players gathered from October 7 to 9, 2021 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso as part of the second edition of the International Shea Fair of Ouagadougou (SIKO) combined with the National Shea Conference (CNK) . An opportunity to highlight the main job creation levers offered by the sector.

Placed under the theme "Making the processing of shea products one of the main levers for job creation and the fight against poverty among women and young people in the context of Covid-19", the International Shea Fair in Ouagadougou was organized by the Table Filière Shea in collaboration with the Global Shea Alliance and the National Unit for the Implementation of the Enhanced Integrated Framework in Burkina Faso. On the SIKO and CNK menu, panel discussions on several themes including: the inventory, the challenges and development prospects of the shea sector in Burkina Faso; the shea industry and job creation opportunities for youth and women; sector financing and financial products adapted to the challenges of competitiveness; the environment and the protection of the shea resource and the empowerment of women. In addition to the panels, an SME exhibition to promote shea products, B2B sessions and a training series on export requirements for shea butter, kernels and cosmetics from West Africa to buoyant markets in Asia (Japan, China, South Korea) and Africa (South Africa, Angola, Kenya).