Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye led a successful economic diplomacy push at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), securing strategic partnerships in training, health, and agriculture.
The agreements, reached over three days in Yokohama, include a $100 million investment and a plan to locally produce affordable hemodialysis kits.
A platform for investment
President Faye’s participation in TICAD 9 transformed into a strategic offensive, positioning Senegal as a key investment hub for West Africa. His discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Tunisian Prime Minister Sara Zaafarani laid the groundwork for enhanced bilateral cooperation, with a strong focus on peace, democracy, and economic development.
A major pillar of this strategy is vocational training, a philosophy inspired by Japan’s human resource development model. This led to an agreement to build an annex to the existing Senegal-Japan Vocational and Technical Training Center (CFT) in Diamniadio.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Senegalese government signed a historic memorandum with major Japanese industrial companies, including Toyota Tsusho, Daikin, Yamaha, Toda, and NEC, to establish a training and skills transfer program for Senegalese youth.
The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) also committed to expanding the presence of the 25 Japanese companies already in Senegal, with a focus on digital technology and green energy. This will be further explored at the “Invest in Senegal Forum” in Dakar in October.
The financial ambition is significant, with Kaiza Doyukai, an association of over 1,700 Japanese CEOs, announcing a plan to increase its African investment fund from $5 million to $100 million in partnership with the African Development Bank. President Faye emphasized that a partnership with Senegal is a “relationship for the future with all of Africa.”
Advancements in health and development
A significant health agreement was a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Carrefour Medical and NIPRO Corporation to locally produce hemodialysis kits. This partnership aims to drastically reduce the cost of kits from 35,000 to 25,000 CFA francs, improving access to kidney care for the Senegalese population.
In broader development, cooperation with the World Food Programme (WFP), led by Executive Director Cindy McCain, will focus on three key areas: school canteens, women’s empowerment, and access to water, all aimed at ensuring sustainable food security.
During the conference, President Faye also advocated for predictable funding for peacekeeping operations in Africa and called for multilateral reform. He presented the “Senegal 2050 National Transformation Agenda,” which prioritizes investments in infrastructure, education, and innovation to drive inclusive growth. Discussions with Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka also explored technical cooperation in areas like water management, waste treatment, and urban planning.
These agreements underscore Senegal’s strategy to leverage its political stability, strategic location, and business climate reforms to become a leading investment hub in West Africa.
AC/Sf/fss/abj/APA