Senegal’s remarkable cultural attractions and favorable investment climate makes it a top west-African destination. It’s diversified economy, booming tourism sector and secure environment draws not only tourists, but investors, to the country.
A DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY, FRIENDLY INVESTMENT CLIMATE AND BOOMING ENERGY SECTOR
Senegal is not only an amazing destination for tourism and culture, but also a regional business hub. In recent years the Senegalese authorities have made marked improvements in global business rankings – Senegal is currently ranked at 123, one of the best in West Africa, by the World Bank’s Doing Business report.
From the outset, the administration of H.E. President Macky Sall has waged battle against all forms of corruption and investors and businessmen can expect a country without burdensome red tape, where one can do business easily and effectively. The economy is highly diversified with everything from services, finance, tourism, infrastructure, mining and a burgeoning oil and gas industry.
From 2014-2017 the offshore waters in Senegal, and the Senegalese border with Mauritania, yielded a number of world-class oil and gas discoveries, including the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim gas field and the Sangomar oil and gas field. Production of these huge oil and gas fields is expected over the course of 2023-2024, along with a growing influx of foreign direct investment. Dakar is already a booming city, but the major forthcoming revenues from oil and gas monetization are expected to radically transform the economy even further. Major business opportunities emerging in Senegal should serve as an impetus to discover Senegal, and visit Dakar, West-Africa’s most vibrant and booming city.
MODERN, SAFE & EASILY ACCESSIBLE
Senegal is strategically located from a geographical standpoint. The country is easily accessible by land, sea, and air due to its central location from the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and several African countries. Over the past decade, Senegal has made massive investments in upgrading critical infrastructure. The Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD), equipped with the latest in modern facilities was inaugurated in December 2017. Located 40Km from Dakar it is a modern and sophisticated airport that receives flights from all over the world. It is not uncommon to get one’s baggage, go through customs and immigration, and be on your way in under 30 minutes, sometimes even less. Furthermore, the road network is excellent with more than 15,000km of tarred roads, that guarantee rapid traveling between different cities.
In addition, Senegal is easy for many foreign nationals to visit; EU and U.S. citizens, for example, do not need a visa for trips under 90 days. Many nationals from other countries will also find that they benefit from easy access to the country. Hospitality in Senegal is so deeply ingrained in the country’s culture that there is a specific word in Wolof for it, ‘Teranga,’ which, roughly translated, means ‘good hospitality.’ In practice, Teranga reflects how one treats a guest — ‘with open arms.’
Also read: Senegal: ‘One Nation, One Goal’ mindset propels economic growth
DIVERSE TOURISM OFFERING
Senegal truly has something for everyone to enjoy while visiting this breathtakingly beautiful country. A tourist can discover the Pink Lake (Lac Rose), take a camel ride in the Lompoul desert, row in a canoe the labyrinth of the Saloum bolongs (wetlands), bike through the rice fields of Casamance, ride in a horse-drawn carriage in the old town of Saint-Louis, go up the Senegal River to Podor on a cruise ship, climb Baobab trees in Sindia, or even watch hippopotamuses on The Gambia River. Each region of Senegal has its own treasure of attractions waiting to be discovered.
THE CULTURAL HEARTBEAT OF WEST AFRICA
Many people around the world have, at one point or another, heard about Senegal through the poetic impetus of the poet-laureate former President Léopold Sédar Senghor, the famous Senegalese infantrymen who served valiantly in WWII and helped liberate occupied Europe, and the globally renowned songs of Senegal’s most famous musician, Youssou Ndour, and Senegal’s delicious and varied cuisine that can be enjoyed locally, or in restaurants around the world. All of these factors combined ensure that Senegal is a country with reputation as a great place to visit that transcends its borders.
SUNSHINE ALL YEAR ROUND
Traveling to Senegal is the promise a of a sunny holiday and an exceptional climate all year round. The dry season in Senegal extends from January to June with temperatures that vary from 20 °C to 30 °C, with significant variations between the coastline which tends to be cooler, and the mainland interior which is warmer and dryer. The temperatures in the capital city Dakar are extremely pleasant from November onwards, and even during the rainy season from July to October, the thunderstorms pass quickly once again revealing sunshine and rainbows.
MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2021 will see the strong participation of official delegations from many sub-Saharan African countries, in particular those from the MSGBC sedimentary basin (Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry), as well as other oil- producing countries from West Africa and North Africa, alongside investment partners from Europe, the Middle East, North America and Asia.
To find out more information regarding speaker or sponsorship opportunities at the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2021, please visit www.msgbc2021.com or contact sales@energycapitalpower.com, manuelle@energycapitalpower.com serigne@energycapitalpower.com
