SPEECH OF SERIGNE ARAMINE MBACKE SYMPOSIUM ON BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN SENEGAL IN HOUSE BREAKFAST
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• Mr. Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, • Honorable members of Business Lawyer Cabinet Nunziante Magrone, • Honorable Guests, • Ladies and Gentlemen, First of all let me express my gratitude to all of you for inviting me to this ‘In house Breakfast’ Symposium on business and Investment opportunities in Senegal. I am particularly touched by the expression of kindness and esteem you showed me and mostly the determination each of you had to be present here today. Therefore allow me to tell you how grateful I am to you for the interest you show for Senegal, a country of real opportunities for private investment. Indeed, in addition to being a country of democracy, Senegal respects the rule of law. His Excellency Mr. Macky SALL since he got to office, is resolutely committed to improving the business environment. This is the meaning that must be given to the determination of President Macky SALL to promote good governance, transparency, effectiveness and efficiency of administrative actions, the speed in processing of cases and legal certainty for investments. It is in this spirit of 'governing otherwise', combining effectiveness and transparency, that the Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE) was launched at the round table
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of donors held in Paris on February 24 and 25 of this year. The ambitious "Senegal Emergent in 2035" vision reflects the will of his Excellency Mr. Macky Sall to change the course of things and aims at positioning Senegal as a regional hub on the logistical, industrial, mining, airspace level as well as in the multi-service and tourism sectors. So by the year 2035, Senegal should be a reference country in West Africa and beyond. Materializing such a vision requires a strong mobilization of the private sector, which is, in truth, the fundamental pillar. It is therefore for me, the opportunity to invite you, Ladies and Gentlemen Investors, to participate massively in the realization of projects and programs of the PES that offers real opportunities. Right at the outset, the Government of Senegal has taken several steps to make the business climate more attractive: • Senegal has a unique geographical position. It is a member of ECOWAS and the West African Economic and Monetary Union • Model of democracy and free enterprise: Senegal is cited as an example in terms of political stability. It has strong Institutions, it is a stable country with a low risk level and strong
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financial capacity (Standard & Poors rating: B + and Moody's: B1), • Favorable business environment: Senegal is engaged in a program to improve its business climate: implemented reforms (ranking top 10 African countries on good governance and democracy (ref. Moh Ibrahim) • Modern and outstanding infrastructure : o Port Authority of Dakar with a container terminal facility, o A Special Integrated Economic Zone, o A new International Airport (AIBD) with a planned capacity of 3 million passengers a year, o Channels of communications linking Dakar to neighboring countries (Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Guinea, Conakry and Gambia), o Most outstanding digital telecommunications network, • Young qualified human resources, • An exceptional living environment: 700 km of coastline and a pleasant climate,
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Ladies and Gentlemen, The Plan, « Emerging Senegal » launched by His Excellency President Macky SALL, I mentioned earlier, has already begun to be implemented as evidenced by the starting of some major projects in the urban Pole of Diamniadio. Other projects of equal importance are on the way. In fact the PSE has identified 26 priority projects, 18 of which are infrastructure projects to be implemented in a PPP-- Public, Private Partnership in the following areas: 1. Transportation Infrastructure: Port of Kaolack, Dakar Tramway Railways, Highways, 2. Mines : Integrated Project of the Faleme Iron (Region of Kédougou), 3. Education : construction of the 2nd University of Dakar, the City of Knowledge, Professional Higher Education Institutes, University residences 4. Santé : Rehabilitation of Hospital Aristide Le Dantec, Cancer treatment Center, 5. Agriculture: aggregation projects targeted on sectors with high added value: rice, horticultural sector, agro business, farming, grain corridors, seawater desalination plant, etc.
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6. Tourism : development of tourist sites of Joal Fadioute, Bodiène and Pointe Sarène, 7. Industries and Services : Special integrated economic Zones, business district , 8. Social housing and living environment, 9. Energy : rural electrification, renewable energies, energy transportation and distribution grid Ladies and Gentlemen, Incentive measures favorable to improving the climate of business adopted by the Government, the good economic and financial prospects supported by enormous potentials, the commitment to good governance and the rule of law, make Senegal a site attractive and secure for any private investor. WELLCOME TO SENEGAL THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION
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