The Senegalese government has been urged to leverage its resources to strengthen its industrial fabric and retain a greater share of the value added generated by investments. According to Frédéric Kwady Ndécky, director executive adjoint of the West African Center for Public Policy, green industrialization should enable Senegal to transform its resources and retain more value from investments. He made this statement during a roundtable discussion on green industrialization and economic development in Dakar.
Ndécky presented the main findings of a study titled "Green Industrialization and Development in Senegal: A Lever for Productive, Inclusive, and Sustainable Transformation?" The study highlights that Senegal is at a critical juncture in its economic development, with hydrocarbon production, implementation of Vision Senegal 2050, and acceleration of the global ecological transition. Ndécky emphasized that green industrialization should not be limited to adopting clean technologies but also focus on producing more while producing differently.
The expert warned against the risk of developing an enclave economy where extractive activities generate wealth without transforming the national industrial fabric. He called for transforming the local content of large projects into sustainable industrial capacities. Data presented at the meeting showed that purchases from Senegalese suppliers related to extractive activities reached approximately 1,110 billion CFA francs in 2024, up from 1,025 billion for foreign purchases.
While these figures are seen as positive, Ndécky stressed that they do not measure the depth of industrial transformation. He distinguished between transactional local content and productive local content, emphasizing that Senegalese companies need support to upgrade, respect standards, and become sustainable suppliers to large projects. The study recommends investing in sectors with high potential for local transformation and improving energy efficiency.
The study also suggests facilitating access to financing, certification, and reinforcing technical skills in areas like maintenance, quality, and energy efficiency. It proposes developing ecosystems associating infrastructure, skills, training, and production activities beyond industrial units. Ndécky underlined that the goal is to reduce economic activity concentration in Dakar and enable other territories to benefit from industrial transformation.
Ndécky emphasized that what matters is building capacities, not just implanting factories in regions. The strategy aims to create ecosystems that associate infrastructure, skills, and production activities. This approach is expected to help Senegal achieve its green industrialization goals and promote sustainable economic growth.
The national strategy for green industrialization is set to be validated on October 13. Stakeholders are expected to discuss and finalize the strategy, which will guide Senegal's efforts to promote green industrialization and achieve its development goals. The strategy is seen as crucial for Senegal's economic transformation and its ability to benefit from its natural resources.
Key points
- Senegal urged to transform local content into productive capacities for green industrialization
- Green industrialization should focus on producing more while producing differently
- Study recommends investing in sectors with high potential for local transformation and improving energy efficiency
