The government has launched the process of setting up five agropoles.
Belgian Development Agency (ENABEL) and the African Development Bank (ADB). But on Thursday in Dakar, Brussels promised to step up its support for the agropole center.
“In Belgium, the agri-food sector is extremely important. That’s why we’ll be giving more support to the central agropolis,” promised Willy Borsus, Vice-President of Wallonia-Brussels and Minister of Agriculture.
On an economic mission to Senegal (May 22-25) led by Princess Astrid of Belgium, Mr. Borsus was speaking at a day dedicated to the agropole center on the theme: “Business opportunities and partnerships in Senegal’s agro-industrial sector.”
“The agropole center brings together all the objectives of Senegal’s emergence. It will create jobs and contribute to food self-sufficiency. The agropole integrates a sustainable development dimension,” continued Willy Borsus, Vice-President of Wallonia-Brussels and Minister of Agriculture, calling on agropole project leaders to “persevere to overcome the obstacles.”
The agropole center is expected to process at least 3.4 million tons of groundnuts, 267,777 tons of cereals and 191,564 tons of salt produced in the regions covered.
In addition to its financial and economic impact, the project is expected to create a total of 19,200 jobs (60 percent for women and 50 percent for young people).
TE/fss/as/APA