Senegal is accelerating the economic transformation of Casamance, in the south of the country, through an investment of 90 billion CFA francs to develop agri-hubs and revitalise the cashew industry. The project aims to create agri-food industrial zones and generate more direct and indirect jobs in a region considered strategic for the country’s agriculture.
90 billion CFA francs: this is the budget allocated by Senegal to accelerate the economic transformation of Casamance through agropoles and the cashew industry. Of this amount, 51 billion CFA francs are earmarked for the hubs in Oussouye, Ziguinchor and Bignona, and 39 billion for infrastructure in Kolda and Sédhiou. The programme envisages the creation of nine agri-food industrial zones and more than 50,000 jobs, with the aim of strengthening industrialisation and agricultural growth in the region.
An agropole is simply an industrial and agri-food zone. I therefore wanted to reiterate the government’s overall approach with regard to Casemence. The government intends to invest heavily in Casemence. But we haven’t stopped there; we also have other projects with the government relating to the port – as you have seen, the port of Ziguinchor.
Serigne Guèye Diop, Minister for Industry and Trade – Senegal
The cashew sector is at the heart of Senegal’s industrialisation strategy, generating 92 billion CFA francs from exports, yet with only 3 per cent processed locally. The government’s objective, following consultation with stakeholders, is to achieve 30 per cent local processing within five years.
I just wanted to let you know that the Diomay plan for the Casemence region is well under way. This ‘agropoles’ project is also part of that plan. Regarding the first point, we have reassured all SMEs, as well as economic interest groups (GIE), by telling them that the agropole already has warehouses dedicated exclusively to SMEs.
Serigne Guèye Diop, Minister for Industry and Trade – Senegal
To realise these ambitions, the government is introducing a scheme combining taxation and support measures: a tax of 40 FCFA per kilogramme exported, supplemented by 20 FCFA for training and infrastructure projects. SMEs and economic interest groups (GIE) will be given priority in the agropoles’ warehouses, whilst investors are encouraged to set up processing units. The whole initiative draws on existing infrastructure – ports, roads and the airport – to turn Casamance into an agro-industrial hub.
