Türkiye’s ambassador to Senegal, Dilşad Kırbaşlı Karaoğlu, has reaffirmed her country’s commitment to strengthening economic ties with Senegal as Türkiye marked the 103rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
The celebration came on the eve of the opening of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), the first edition of the event to be held on the African continent.
“In this context, our diplomatic relations with Senegal, established shortly after independence, have gradually developed into a strong, strategic and multidimensional partnership,” the ambassador said, highlighting the regular high-level exchanges between the two countries.
On economic prospects, she said that around 100 Turkish companies were operating in Senegal in sectors including construction, infrastructure, energy, textiles, food and furniture.
She also highlighted Türkiye investment, job creation and technology transfers.
The ambassador stressed the need to continue this cooperation in line with the priorities set out in Senegal Vision 2050. The two countries aim in particular to expand trade and strengthen partnerships between their business communities.
Senegal’s Minister of Microfinance and Social and Solidarity Economy, Alioune Dione, who attended the celebration, also highlighted prospects for bilateral cooperation.
“Economic and trade cooperation plays a central role in relations between Senegal and Türkiye,” he said, referring to the shared goal of raising annual bilateral trade to $1 billion.
The minister recalled that the sixth meeting of the Joint Commission for Trade and Economic and Technical Cooperation had been held in Dakar on 9 and 10 April 2026.
He called for trade diversification, greater promotion of Senegalese products on the Turkish market and increased investment in productive sectors.
“The challenge is to turn the opportunities identified into viable projects that create value and jobs while respecting the interests of both countries,” he said.
Closer ties ahead of Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games
Cooperation between Senegal and Turkey also covers education, training, culture, audiovisual media, digital technology and infrastructure.
Several agreements signed during official exchanges in 2024 and 2025 have broadened the framework for the partnership.
On the sporting front, the ambassador praised Senegal’s organisation of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 13 in Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.
She expressed support for the event, which will be the first Youth Olympic Games held in Africa.
The national day celebration thus provided an opportunity to highlight the ties between the two countries as Senegal prepares to welcome sporting delegations from around the world.
SS/Sf/lb/gik/APA