Important infrastructure projects and structural reforms of the economy are improving the competitiveness of the country and facilitating foreign direct investments (e.g. : Tangier Med II, construction of the second Mediterranean port in Tangier - the government plans to invest 2.2 billion euros for the restoration of road infrastructure from 2005 to 2015)
Structural reforms attract investments (e.g.: free trade agreements with the EU and Turkey)
Specialization in computer services with high added value ( off-shoring )
Important reforms in the attractive and stable business environment : privatizations, development of public-private partnerships, the simplification of public works contract regulations…
Launch of GOANA / (Grand Agricultural Offensive for Food and Abundance). Export of seafood products, phosphates industry, development of ICT
France is the first commercial partner of Senegal and the first foreign investor in the country
Exports of agricultural products ( mainly cocoa beans), fruits and vegetables, wood products, hydrocarbon industry (oil, gas...) and mining (gold, platinum, cobalt)
Processing industry increasing wealth and employment
Transport infrastructure facilitates connections with the rest of Africa
Growth of the ICT sector
Development of public services to create new companies and foreign investments (one-stop service of CEPICI - Promotion Centre of investments in Ivory Coast)
The end of the conflicts is helping to relaunch the economy (consumption and private investments)
Since 2005, several reforms are allowing moves towards a market economy (softening of the law on foreign direct investment, the progressive liberalization of imports, organization of free zones)
Development of private banks and opening of foreign trade allow stimulation of internal investment and the purification of the financial structures
Objective of reaching a rate of 20 % penetration in telecommunications has been fixed by the ministry of Telecommunications and Technology.
Important infrastructure projects: motorway network (pass of 1100 km in 2300 km in the next five years), harbours (modernization of the ports Lattaquié and Tartous), airports (modernization and extension of five airports in the country), rail (line Damas-Alep within two hours) …
The objective is to encourage partnership, skill sharing and economic cooperation among the participating regions.
The conference and workshops on February 9th will focus on the interests, expectations and the mutual needs of companies in the key sectors:
energy
infrastructure
transport
information and communication technology
agrobusiness
construction
logistics
February 10th will be dedicated to B2B matchmaking. This will provide a chance for 300 companies - from 11 countries - to develop trade agreements and industrial, technological and financial partnerships. Participants will also be able to investigate opportunities for transfer of knowledge in the above sectors.
