Senegal has reaffirmed its commitment to positioning itself as a strategic hub for global investment through the Invest in Senegal Forum 2025, which opened this week in Diamniadio, a fast-developing urban and economic zone located near Dakar. The two-day forum, themed “Connecting Opportunities, Building the Future,” has brought together government officials, international investors, policymakers, and development partners from across the globe. The event highlights Senegal’s growing reputation as one of West Africa’s most promising destinations for foreign direct investment (FDI), driven by structural reforms, political stability, and a long-term vision of inclusive development.
In his keynote address, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye underscored the government’s efforts to consolidate Senegal’s macroeconomic progress and enhance the business environment. He emphasised that sustainable development must be anchored in equitable partnerships and local empowerment. “Senegal’s development is not merely about attracting capital; it is about creating value that benefits all Senegalese and contributes to Africa’s collective advancement,” he declared.
Faye also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the Plan Sénégal Émergent (PSE), Senegal’s long-term strategic framework for economic transformation. The plan prioritises industrialisation, digital innovation, and infrastructure development, while fostering an investment climate grounded in transparency, good governance, and accountability. The President’s remarks reflected a broader shift in African economic diplomacy—one that seeks to move away from extractive, one-dimensional models of investment toward partnerships that deliver shared prosperity and mutual respect.
The event attracted delegations from across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, reflecting the diversity of Senegal’s economic partnerships. Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, accompanying President Faye, participated in bilateral meetings and toured the exhibition stands of international companies. A major highlight was the Chinese exhibition area, coordinated by the Chinese Embassy in Senegal and Ambassador Li Zhigang, which featured more than 20 Chinese firms showcasing innovations in infrastructure, 5G communications, smart manufacturing, and low-carbon technologies.
Ambassador Li noted that cooperation between China and Senegal continues to expand beyond traditional infrastructure projects into high-value sectors such as digitalisation, renewable energy, and industrial production. “Our cooperation illustrates that Africa-China relations are entering a new era—one characterised by joint innovation, respect, and mutual benefit,” he said. To date, over 100 Chinese enterprises are operating in Senegal across multiple sectors, including highways, bridges, ports, steel, ceramics, building materials, and technology. These initiatives have contributed significantly to local job creation and capacity-building, demonstrating how South-South cooperation can serve as a model for sustainable development.
Analysts note that Senegal’s growing attraction to global investors lies not only in its strategic Atlantic location but also in its political predictability and regional influence. According to data from the African Development Bank (AfDB), Senegal has maintained an average annual GDP growth rate of over 5 percent over the past decade, making it one of the most resilient economies in sub-Saharan Africa. This economic dynamism is underpinned by public investments in energy infrastructure, urban expansion, and technology innovation, particularly in Diamniadio’s emerging industrial and digital corridors.
The Invest in Senegal Forum 2025 has thus become more than a business meeting; it represents an evolving vision for how African nations can shape their economic narratives on their own terms. It signals the confidence with which African governments are now redefining investment frameworks—prioritising fair competition, environmental sustainability, and local participation. The forum also resonates with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions an integrated, prosperous, and self-determined continent driven by inclusive growth and knowledge-based economies.
Observers emphasise that Senegal’s example is illustrative of a broader continental transformation. Countries across Africa are no longer passive recipients of aid or capital but are actively negotiating partnerships that align with their long-term aspirations. The Pan-African approach championed by Senegal—rooted in dignity, agency, and interdependence—suggests that Africa’s economic renaissance will be built not merely on investment inflows, but on the ability of African states to define the terms of engagement.
As global investors seek stability and opportunity, Senegal’s efforts underscore the continent’s potential to offer both. By fostering innovation, regional integration, and cooperation that transcends historical hierarchies, the forum in Diamniadio has reaffirmed that the story of Africa’s growth is not one of dependency, but of determination and transformation.
