Sandvik Business Opportunities in West Africa – A Case Study in Mali and Burkina Faso Mineral Development

Mali and Burkina Faso liberalised their investment policies governing her mineral industry in 1999 and 2004 under the Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) into that sector which was constrained due to lack of finance during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Consequently, there has been increases in mineral production, revenue, earnings and foreign exchange. However, there are attendant negative effects on the environment and local communities which cannot be underestimated especially when much of the profits are accrued to foreign investors. This project work therefore seeks to critically assess Sandvik Business Opportunities in West Africa especially in Mali and Burkina Faso Mineral Development and recommend mining methods and processes to maximizing the returns from the mineral industry.