Country Profile - SENEGAL

General Information

Area: 196,722 sq km (75,955 sq miles).

Population: 9,524,000 (official estimate 2000).

Population Density: 48.4 per sq km.

Capital: Dakar. Population: 2,079,000 (UN projection 2000).

GEOGRAPHY: Senegal is bordered by Guinea Republic and Guinea-Bissau to the south, Mali to the east and Mauritania to the north, and encloses the confederated state of The Gambia. To the west lies the Atlantic Ocean. Most land is less than 100m (330ft) above sea level, except for the Fouta Djallon foothills in the southeast and the Bambouk Mountains on the Mali border. On the coast between Dakar and St Louis is a strip of shifting dunes. South of Dakar there are shallow estuaries along the coastline, which is fringed by palm trees. In the northern part of the country, south of the Senegal Basin, lies the arid Fouta Ferlo, a hot dry Sahelian plain with little vegetation.

Government: Republic since 1963. Gained independence from France in 1960. Head of State: President Abdoulaye Wade since 2000. Head of Government: Prime Minister Idrissa Seck since 2002.

Language: The official language is French. There are many local languages, the principal one being Wolof. Other groups include Peul, Sener and Diola.

Religion: Around 94 per cent Muslim, 4 per cent Christian (mostly Roman Catholic with some Protestants), and a minority holds traditional beliefs.

Time: GMT.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Communications:

Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 221. Outgoing international code: 00. Dial 17 (police) or 18 (fire brigade) or 821 3213 (emergency medical services).

Mobile telephone: GSM 900. Main network providers include Sentel (website: www.millicom.com) and Sonatel (website: www.sonatel.sn).

Fax: Towns have ‘telecentres’ from which faxes can be sent. Sonatel (responsible for all telecommunications) has fax facilities. Some hotels also have fax machines.

Internet: ISPs include Telecom Plus. There are Internet cafes in Dakar, Saint Louis and other major towns.

Telegram: There are facilities at main post offices and several hotels.

Post: Airmail to Europe takes between 7 and 10 days, and surface mail between 2 and 6 weeks.

Press: All newspapers are in French and nearly all are controlled directly by political parties.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

Passport/Visa

Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required?
British Yes No Yes
Australian Yes Yes Yes
Canadian Yes No Yes
USA Yes No Yes
OtherEU Yes No/1 Yes
Japanese Yes No Yes

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least 6 months after date of entry required by all.

VISAS: Required by all except the following:

(a) nationals of countries referred to in the chart above (except 1. nationals of Australia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak Republic and Slovenia who do require a visa) for stays of up to 3 months;

(b) nationals of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Taiwan (China) and Togo for stays of up to 3 months;

(c) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.

Note: Applications from nationals of the following countries must be referred to the authorities in Dakar and will therefore take longer: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Cambodia, Chile, China (PR), Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Guyana, Hong Kong (SAR), Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Korea (Dem Rep), Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Maldives, Mozambique, Pakistan, Russian Federation, São Tomé e Príncipe, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovak Republic, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Vietnam and Yemen.

Types of visa and cost: Entry: £3.15 (up to 15 days); £7.35 (15 to 30 days); £10.50 (up to 90 days). Cheques are not accepted.

Validity: 3 months from the date of issue for stays of up to 3 months.

Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. The visa section at the Embassy of Senegal in London is open 1000-1330 for lodging and 1300-1500 for collection.

Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) Two passport-size photos. (c) Two completed application forms. (d) Letter of invitation or confirmed hotel booking, if applicable. (e) Self-addressed, stamped recorded delivery envelope for postal applications. (f) Evidence of return tickets. (g) Company letter for business trips.

Note: A WHO vaccination card, with current Yellow Fever and Cholera vaccinations, may be required if national is travelling from an endemic area.

Working days required: At least 3. Nationals who must submit their applications to the authorities in Dakar prior to travel should submit their visa applications at least 21 days before the intended date of departure.

Temporary Residence: Enquire at Embassy (see Contact Addresses section).

Money

Currency: CFA (Communauté Financiaire Africaine) Franc (CFAfr) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of CFAfr10,000, 5000, 2500, 1000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of CFAfr250, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1. Senegal is part of the French Monetary Area. Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank of West African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.

Credit & debit cards: American Express is the most widely accepted, although Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa have limited use. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: Travellers cheques are easy to cash in Dakar. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take them in Euros.

Exchange rate indicators: The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the CFA Franc against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Aug ’03 Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May ’04
£1.00= 938.15 957.53 961.13 983.76
$1.00= 573.92 564.26 528.01 550.79

Currency restrictions: Import of local currency is unlimited; import of foreign currency is unlimited but subject to declaration. Export of local currency is restricted to CFAfr20,000. Export of foreign currency is limited to CFAfr50,000; for amounts exceeding this, the declaration issued on arrival must be presented.

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1100 and 1430-1600.

Duty Free

Duty Free: The following may be imported into Senegal by persons over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty:

200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; a reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use; gifts up to the value of CFAfr5000.

Note: There is no free import of spirits.

Public Holidays

Public Holidays: Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Feb 2 Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice). Feb 22 Tamkarit (Islamic New Year). Apr 4 Independence Day. Apr 12 Easter Monday. May 1 Labour Day. May 2 Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday. May 20 Ascension. May 31 Whit Monday. Aug 15 Assumption. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Nov 14-16 Korité (End of Ramadan). Dec 25 Christmas Day. Jan 1 2005 New Year’s Day. Jan 21 Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice). Feb 10 Tamkarit (Islamic New Year). Apr 4 Independence Day. Mar 28 Easter Monday. Apr 21 Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday. May 1 Labour Day. May 5 Ascension. May 16 Whit Monday. Aug 15 Assumption. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Nov 3-5 Korité (End of Ramadan). Dec 25 Christmas Day.

Note: Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Korité (Eid al-Fitr), Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Korité itself. Korité and Tabaski (Eid al-Adha) may last anything from 2 to 10 days, depending on the region. For more information, see the World of Islam appendix.

Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required?
Yellow Fever Yes 1
Cholera Yes 2
Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A
Malaria 4 N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate may be required from travellers over 1 year of age coming from endemic areas. Enquire at nearest Embassy/Consulate prior to departure.

2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Senegal. However, cholera is a risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness; see the Health appendix for more information.

3: Vaccination against typhoid is advised.

4: Malaria risk, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form, exists all year throughout the country; there is a lower risk in the central Western regions from January to June. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.

Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should first be boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks: Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water; swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis) is reported. Hepatitis A and E are widespread; hepatitis B is hyperendemic. Meningococcal meningitis risk exists, particularly during the dry season and in the savannah areas.

Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, see the Health appendix.

Health care: In Dakar, doctors are plentiful and most medicines are available. Up-country, however, facilities are minimal. Health insurance is essential.

Travel – International

AIR: Senegal’s national airline is Air Senegal (DS). Other airlines serving Senegal include Air Afrique, Air France, Alitalia and Iberia.

Approximate flight times: From Dakar to Paris is 5 hours 30 minutes, to London is 7 hours 35 minutes and to New York is 8 hours 10 minutes.

International airports: Dakar (DKR) (Leopold Sedar Senghor) is 17km (10.5 miles) northwest of the city (travel time – 25 minutes). Regular coach and bus services go to and from Dakar. Metered taxis are available. Airport facilities include duty-free shop, bar/restaurant, bank/bureau de change, post office and car hire.

Departure tax: None.

SEA: There are regular sailings from the Canary Islands, France, Morocco, Spain and several South American and West African ports. The main port is Dakar.

RAIL: There are two passenger trains (one Senegalese and one Malian) with restaurant and sleeping cars, running from Bamako, Mali, twice a week. The journey can take 30 to 36 hours. It is advisable to travel on the Senegalese train (well up to Western standards), rather than the Malian train (very basic indeed).

ROAD: Roads from Mauritania are tarred and in good condition; the best place to cross the border is at Rosso. Roads from Guinea-Bissau are not yet tarred; there is a border crossing at São Domingo. There is a route from Senegal to Mali via Tambacounda. There is access across the Sahara by a 5500km (2120 mile) road that runs from Algeria via Mali. The trans-Gambian highway crosses the River Gambia by ferry. There is a good network of buses and taxis running across the major borders.

Travel – Internal

AIR: Air Senegal runs services to all the main towns in Senegal. Gambia Air Shuttle offers flights from Dakar to Banjul (The Gambia).

Departure tax: None.

SEA: It is often quicker to travel by sea than road. A boat operating on a weekly basis runs from Dakar to Ziguinchor (travel time – 20 hours). Sea shuttles depart regularly from Dakar harbour to the Île of Gorée. An excellent new service, L’Express du Senegal, links Banjul, Dakar and Ziguinchor. Fares tend to be high.

RAIL: The country has a network of about 1225km (761 miles) of rail track. Trains run from Dakar to towns en route for Bamako in Mali. There is also a service between Dakar and St Louis. There is an ongoing programme of upgrading and expansion. Children under 3 travel free. Children aged 3 to 9 pay half fare.

ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. There are approximately 3900km (2423 miles) of asphalt roads linking the major towns and the coastal region. The network of roads in the interior is rough (about 10,400km/6460 miles in total) and may become impassable during the rainy season; it is not advisable to drive at night. There are often police checkpoints at the entrance and exit to villages to enforce speed restrictions; fines are paid on the spot. Bus: There are many buses available for short distances as well as mini-buses (known locally as car rapide) which are cheaper if less efficient. Fares are usually up to CFAfr100. Long-distance services operate subject to demand only. Taxi: Available in most towns and fares are metered with a surcharge of CFAfr100. Rates increase after midnight. It is cheaper to hail a taxi in the street than arrange to be collected from the hotel. Bush taxis and estate cars are good for journeys into the interior. Car hire: Companies are found in Dakar and the main towns. Documentation: A French or International Driving Permit and Green Card are required.

URBAN: Bus and minibus services operate in Dakar.

Accommodation

HOTELS: The government-controlled expansion of tourism has led to an increasing number of hotels. There are several of international standard, and more development is underway, including a number of hotels on the Petite Côte (the stretch of beaches between Dakar and Joal). In Casamance, some luxury resorts have been built. It is advisable to book accommodation in advance, particularly in Dakar where there is an increased demand during the tourist season, which lasts from December to May. Hotels in Dakar generally have air conditioning but tend to be expensive. In addition, visitors may choose the floating hotel in the River Region. Grading: Hotels are classified from 1 to 4 stars.

CAMPING: Government campsites (campements) provide a few beds, but no bedding. There are basic facilities for travellers who prefer to wander from the beaten track, although camping independently is strongly discouraged. Sometimes bungalows or grass huts are available; visitors must otherwise provide their own tents.

MISSIONS: Catholic missions will accommodate tourists only in cases of real need.

VILLAGE HUTS: A village will sometimes courteously offer a stranger one of the local huts as living accommodation, but it is necessary for visitors to provide their own bedding.

Sport & Activities

Wildlife: The only place to see large mammals in Senegal is the Parc National de Niokolo Koba, although some species, such as elephants, are now extremely rare. Birdwatchers have more to be excited about – the parks and nature reserves in the coastal regions are renowned bird sanctuaries. Coastal parks often involve boat trips. For further details, see also National Parks in the Resorts & Excursions section or contact the Ministère de la Culture, du Tourisme et des Loisirs (see Contact Addresses section).

Watersports: There are plenty of good beaches, but swimming can be hazardous in some places; visitors are advised to enquire with their travel agent before booking a beach holiday. Good areas for swimming include Casamance, Hann Bay, N’Gor Beach and Petite Côte. Many hotels in the main tourist resorts have swimming pools. Underwater enthusiasts will find good diving waters all around the Cap Vert Peninsula, with February to April being the best months. Water-skiing facilities are available at Dakar alongside the Children’s Beach on the lagoon between N’Gor and its island and at the Hanns Bay marinas. Windsurfing is possible, and both coastal and river kayak trips can be arranged.

Music: West Africa has a strong musical tradition and Dakar is the best place to sample Senegal’s vibrant music scene. The capital has numerous established clubs and venues with frequent live performances. Details can be found in the local papers (written in French) or from the Ministère de la Culture, du Tourisme et des Loisirs (see Contact Addresses section). Villages also frequently put on musical performances for tourists.

Other: From May through November, Senegal offers excellent sports fishing. Organised trips are available from fishing centres and hotels along the coast.

The Senegalese are keen followers of traditional Senegalese wrestling. There are matches every Sunday at the Fass arena and in the suburbs or at the Iba Mar Diop Stadium near the Great Mosque. There is a 9-hole golf course at Camberene and miniature golf at Dakar-Yoff. Football is also very popular, and it is cool enough to jog.

Social Profile

Food & Drink: Senegalese food is considered among the best in Africa. The basis of many dishes is chicken or fish, but the distinctive taste is due to ingredients not found outside Africa. This food is served in many restaurants in Dakar. Provincial rest houses serve less sophisticated but delicious variations. Dishes include chicken au yassa (chicken with lemon, pimento and onions), tiebou dienne (rice and fish), dem à la St Louis (stuffed mullet), maffe (chicken or mutton in peanut sauce) and accras (a kind of fritter). Suckling pig is popular in the Casamance region.

There are bars in some hotels and clubs. Although Senegal is predominantly a Muslim country, alcohol is available. The traditional drink is mint tea, the first cup drunk slightly bitter, the second with more sugar and the third very sweet. The Casamance drink is palm wine, which is drunk either fresh or fermented. Toufam (a kind of yoghurt thinned with sugared water) is served in Toucouleur villages. A unique drink is home-roasted coffee with pimento.

Nightlife: There are several nightclubs and music venues in Dakar, playing mbalakh (the local modern music), as well as a casino on the route to N’Gor. There are many cinemas showing the latest French films. The Daniel Sorano National Theatre in the Boulevard de la Republique is a popular venue for theatre, concerts and other arts performances.

Shopping: Bargaining is customary. At Soumbe-dionne, on the Corniche de Fann, is a craft village where the visitor can watch craftsmen at work and buy their handicrafts. Purchases include woodcarving in the form of African gaming boards, masks and statues; musical instruments; and metalwork, including copper pendants, bowls and statuettes. Most markets and centres sell traditional fabric, embroidery and costume, pottery, necklaces of clay beads and costume jewellery of wood or various seeds. Shopping hours: Generally Mon-Sat 0800-1200 and 1430-1800. Some shops open Sunday morning, others are closed Monday.

Special Events: For more information, contact the Ministère de la Culture, du Tourisme et des Loisirs (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of special events occurring in Senegal in 2004:

Jan Paris-Dakar Rally. Apr Grand Magal Pilgrimage. May Dak’art (African painting, sculpture and design festival). May/Jun St Louis Jazz Festival. Jun Recidak African Film Festival.

Social Conventions: Greetings are appropriate when coming across local people, especially in the bush, and the visitor should make the effort to learn these in one of the local languages. Handshaking on meeting, regardless of how many times a day one meets the person, is normal. When visiting a village, it is polite to call upon the village headman or schoolteacher to explain that you want to spend the night there or visit the area. They will often act as interpreter and will be helpful guides to the customs of the village and also in terms of money, ensuring that a traveller does not find himself in the embarrassing position of paying for hospitality that was given in friendship. Return hospitality with a gift of medicines, food or money for the community. It is not advisable to give money indiscriminately as tourists have encouraged the practice of begging. Casual wear is widely acceptable. Scanty swimwear should be reserved for the beach. Smoking is prohibited in some public places (especially mosques). Tipping: A service charge of 10 to 15 per cent is included in all hotel and restaurant bills. Taxi drivers are not normally given a tip.

Business Profile

Economy: In a good year, Senegal is the world’s leading producer of groundnuts, which are the country’s main export commodity. The farming industry also produces millet, sorghum, maize, rice and vegetables for domestic consumption, but the country’s vulnerability to extreme weather conditions have prevented it from reaching self-sufficiency in basic foodstuffs. Fish products have become an important export commodity, accounting for one-third of total export earnings, and the Government also accumulates revenues from the sale of fishing licences to other countries, mostly from the EU. Both farming and fisheries currently face severe problems - the former due to drought, the latter due to over-fishing by foreign fleets.

Senegal is the most industrialised country in French West Africa after Côte d’Ivoire. Exploitable mineral deposits include phosphates (the chemical industry draws on sizeable deposits of lime phosphate and aluminium phosphate within Senegal). Some iron ore and gold deposits have been identified, and there are thought to be oil reserves both on- and offshore. The main industries – which are almost exclusively geared to domestic consumption – involve the processing of agricultural products and phosphates, milling, textiles, commercial vehicle assembly, food and drink, farming materials (implements, fertilisers), paint, asbestos, cement, printing and boat building. There is also, unusually in this part of Africa, a lively information technology sector.

Although the country remains dependent on foreign aid and its finances are weak, it has shown signs of recovery after a stagnant spell in the late-1990s. Current annual GDP growth is 5 per cent. In 1998, negotiations with the IMF led to the introduction of a Structural Adjustment Programme in exchange for financial support. Senegal is a member of the CFA Franc Zone and the West African trading bloc, ECOWAS. France is its major trading partner, followed by Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Spain and the USA.

Business: A lightweight suit is acceptable for business. French will generally be needed for meetings. Appointments should be made and punctuality is expected, despite the fact that a customer may be slightly late. Visiting cards are essential, preferably in French and English. The right hand should be used for shaking and to pass items. The period from July to October should be avoided for business visits, as many people are on holiday. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1230 and 1300-1600. During Ramadan, some offices open 0730-1430.

Commercial Information: The following organisations can offer advice: Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie et d’Agriculture de la Région de Dakar, BP 118, 1 place de l’Indépendance, Dakar (tel: 823 7189 or 8213; fax: 823 9363; e-mail: cciad@telecomplus.sn; website: www.g77tin.org/cciardhp.html).

Conferences/Conventions: A number of hotels and conference centres offer facilities. Further information can also be obtained from the Embassy of the Republic of Senegal in Washington (see Contact Addresses section).

Climate

Climate: Senegal is favoured by a warm climate. The dry season runs from December through to May with cool trade winds in coastal areas. Throughout the rest of the year, a hot monsoon wind blows from the south bringing the rainy season and hot, humid weather. Rainfall is heaviest in Casamance and in the southeast and slight in the Sahelian region in the north and northeast, where temperatures tend to be higher.

India - Senegal Economic & Trade Relations

Bilateral Trade

India is among the top two trading partner of Senegal, the other being France. India i.e. IFFCO, GOI & SPIC, holds equity share in the Industries Chimiques du Senegal (ICS) which is the phosphate mining and processing company. After the completion of the current expansion programme of the ICS, the equity participation of India has gone up to nearly 30%. India was the largest importer of Senegalese goods in 2000-01 with Indian imports valued at USD 44.34 mn, which comprised mainly of rock phosphate and phosphoric acid. Total value of Indian goods exported during 2000-2001 was USD 23.77 mn . The Indian import and export figures were USD 133.60mn and USD 23.03 mn respectively in 2001-2002. For 2002-03 the import and export figures were USD 172.41 mn and 51.35 mn respectively. India’s principal exports to Senegal are cotton yarn & textile, metal manufactures, transport equipment and drugs & pharmaceuticals. The UB Group’s local textile factory known as SOTIBA SIMPAFRIC was closed down in late 2001. It also owned a paint-manufacturing unit, which was sold in early 2001.

The Tata Motors have won a $19 million World Bank tender for supply of public transport buses to Senegal as part of the scheme to revamp the local transport system. Furthermore, on 17th September 2003, the Indo-Senegalese joint venture SENBUS Industries, established for assembly of Tata buses with 40% equity from INMA International Ltd. and technology from the Tatas, was inaugurated at Thiès. Hon’ble MOS (DS) represented Government of India at the ceremony to which Senegal had also invited the Presidents of Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Sudan; the Prime Minister of Togo and the Minister for Private Sector & Investment of Mali. The Thapar Group has invested in one of the largest textile spinning mills in West Africa, INDOSEN, to produce fabric and terry towels for export under AGOA.
In August 2003, Industries Chimiques du Senegal (ICS) invested an additional $10 million towards capacity expansion. ICS is involved in mining and processing of phosphates. India’s equity share is around 30% of the total equity of ICS. India imported $140.2 million worth of phosphoric acid during the fiscal year 2002-2003 and expects to import $155 million during the next fiscal year 2003-2004.

Indian companies in Senegal

IFFCO : IFFCO has shareholding in Industrie Chimique du Senegal (ICS) and has recently contributed US$ 10mn towards equity and bridging finance of US $ 10mn for doubling the phosphoric acid production capacity of ICS.

TATA Motors Ltd.: TATA Motors have won the USD 19 mn World Bank tender for renewal of the Senegalese public transport fleet and in this context, are providing technical support and CKD kits to SENBUS Industries.

Thapar Group : Set up a Joint venture "Indo Sen" recently with National Textile Company (NSTS) of Senegal with 60% of equity for renovating the existing spinning and weaving plants at Kaolack and for producing readymade garments for exports at Louga.

INMA International Ltd : Associated with the ETDC Project in Senegal, have shareholding in SENBUS Industries and plans to set up a three wheeler assembly unit.

HMT (I) : Involved in ETDC project and Agricultural Development Project. Have appointed a local sales agent M/s. SICAS for spare parts and Machinery for tractors and other agricultural equipments.

CSL Limited : Projects in construction sector and in drilling of wells.

Pharmaceuticals: Ranbaxy and Micro exports Ltd. have their representatives in Senegal. Serum Institute of India have their active presence in vaccines. Besides, several other pharmaceutical companies have had their products registered in Senegal.

Technical & Economic Cooperation

India has been providing technical assistance, both under G-15 and under ITEC. The following important projects have been executed under Indian assistance in Senegal:

 Entrepreneurial Training & Development Centre (ETDC): This Centre was built with Indian technical and financial assistance under G-15 rubric at an estimated cost of $4.49 million. It provides technical training in mechanical maintenance, civil engineering, electrical, electronics, metal-plating, refrigeration and air-conditioning. HMT (International) of India was the main contractor and the project was informally handed over to the Senegalese government in July 2000. Classes commenced since January 1999. The alst of the eight Indian experts deputed for a two-year period to impart training to the Senegalese instructors at the Centre left Senegal in July 2001. The ETDC benefits technical students from Senegal and other francophone countries in the region. It was formally inaugurated by Shri Omar Abdullah, Minister of State for External Affairs on 23rd March 2002. Currently around 380 students from 13 countries are undergoing training in ETDC .

 Solar Energy Project: A village electrification project in Senegal through Solar Energy was implemented under the G-15 Co-operation Programme. Central Electronic Limited (CEL) installed the equipment and one Senegalese technician underwent training in India to operate the system. The project entailed installation of 245 Solar PV Powered Home Lighting Systems and two Medical Refrigeration Systems at villages Soune and Touly. The systems were commissioned in January 2000.

 Agricultural Development Project: This project , implemented by HMT ,envisaged the setting up of two agricultural centres at St. Louis in the north and Tambakounda in the south for development of rice farming and for growing better variety of cotton respectively supported by equipment including 100 tractors, multi-crop threshers, combined harvesters, maize threshers, rice shellers, seeds, one drilling rig and 200 diesel pumps besides technical assistance. The cost of the project was around US $2 million. The Indian Project Director and other Indian experts have since completed their assignment and returned to India. In view of its success, Government of Senegal extended the project for two years i.e. 2001 and 2002 at their own expense and imported 30 more tractors on commercial terms.

 Computerisation of Prime Minister’s Office: The computerisation of the Prime Minister’s office costing around Rs. 36 lakh was undertaken in 1995-96 under the G-15 Coopeartion Programme. Thirty computers with fax and internet facilities were formally handed to the Senegalese PM Mr. Habib Thiam in August1996.

ITEC

Senegal regularly avails of training facilities under the ITEC. Senegal utilised 11 slots in 1999-2000, 8 in 2000-2001, 15 in 2001-02, 8 in 2002-03 and 13 slots so far during 2003-04. A two member Senegalese delegation also visited India on study tour under the ITEC programme in 2002-03 to explore the possibility of cooperation in SMEs sector.

Bilateral Visits

The highlight of 2003-04 was the State visit of President Abdoulaye Wade to India from 12th-15th October 2003. President Wade was accompanied by Senior Minister for Industries & Handicrafts; Senior Minister in the Presidency; Minister for Finance & Economy; Minister for Agriculture; Minister for Infrastructure, Transport & Equipment among other senior officials. The delegation also included leading businessmen. In Delhi, besides the call on the Hon’ble President , Hon’ble Vice-President, the Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers called on President Wade and discussed issues of common interest. There was one-to-one meeting with Hon’ble Prime Minister followed by delegation level talks.

The economic component of the visit included visit to Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, Tata and Bajaj factories in Pune and the Infosys headquarters in Bangalore. President Wade interacted with the Captains of the Indian industry at an event organized jointly by Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

During the visit the Government of India announced the offer of $15 million concessional line of credit for small-scale industries and agricultural equipment. GOI also offered to conduct feasibility study and detailed project report for the 882 kilometers Dakar-Tambconda-Ziguinchor railway line on grant basis. Besides the Joint statement during the visit, Agreement on Cultural Exchange Programme, Agreement on cooperation between Press Trust of India (PTI) and Senegalese Press Agency (APS), Agreements related to economic cooperation between National Small Industries Cooperation (NSIC) and Senegalese Agency for Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (ADEPME) and National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) and ADEPME were signed during the visit.

Other Bilateral visits (2003- 04)

Mr. Digvijay Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs (MOS) visited Senegal from 16-20 September,2003 and participated at the inauguration of Indo-Senegalese joint venture SENBUS Industries.

Mr. Sanjay Singhal, an expert from RITES India Ltd. visited Senegal in May,2003 on a month long consultancy regarding the traffic problems of Dakar.

Dr. D.K. Bhardwaj, Group General Manager, NRDC was invited by the Government of Senegal on a one-month consultancy regarding cooperation in the agriculture sector during March-April,2003. A National Task Force for cooperation with India in the agriculture sector was set up by President Wade. Subsequently, a three-member Senegalese delegation has visited India to look at maize processing equipment in Bangalore, Mysore and Hyderabad.

An Indian Agricultural Expert Dr. S.D. Deshpande visited Dakar from 12-22 Januray,04 to assist Senegal in maize conservation and processing.

2002-03

In 2002, there has been visit of several Senegalese delegations to India. Mr. Pierre Goudiaby Atepa, Special Advisor to the President visited India from 6-13 July,2002 to explore possibilities for cooperation in the transportation sector. A three member Senegalese Delegation led by Mr. Assane Ba, Special Assistant to the President visited India from 25th July-1st August,2002 in connection with the Conference on " India and NEPAD: Furthering Africa-India Economic Cooperation". The delegation also had discussions with different Ministries of the Government of India for exploring specific areas for technical cooperation including sectors like information technology, textiles, food processing and small & medium enterprises. As a followup to that visit, a National Task Force on India-Senegal cooperation has been setup under the Presidency to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries. A five member Senegalese Delegation led by Mr. Youssuf Sakho, Minister for Transport and Equipment visited India from 11-14 August,2002. The visit was a followup to the Gudiaby visit and formalised cooperation in the public transport sector with Indian private sector parties.