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Senegal
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Introduction
Senegal,
with an area of 196,722 square kilometres, is situated at the western
most part of the Atlantic Ocean, at the meeting point of Europe, Africa
and the Americas, as at the crossroads of major air and sea routes.
Senegal is thus aptly called the Gateway to Black Africa. Senegal is bordered by Mauritania in the north, Mali in the
east, Guinea and Guinea Bissau in the south and the Atlantic Ocean in
the west, with a coastline covering 700 kilometres.
The
climate is tropical with a long dry season from November to June and a
wet season from July to October. However, the coast is subjected to
windy developments during the dry season. The average day temperature is
23.3°C in January and 28.3°C
in July.
A real kaleidoscope the luxuriant landscape and the
vast space dotted with hundred-year old baobab trees, Senegal presents a
multitude of natural or environments. Situated between the Sahel in the
north and the large tropical forest, it is crossed by four rivers that
have their source in the Fouta Djalon massive of Guinea. These include:
the Senegal River that gives its name to the country, the Gambia, the
Saloum and the Casamance.
Economy
- Agriculture
contributed 17.9 percent of GDP in 2001. The main agricultural products
are groundnuts, cotton, millet, maize and rice sorghum. However,
peanuts, cotton and cashew nuts are commercial crops. A wide variety of
fruits are also grown and sold on a dynamic domestic markets including:
bananas, pineapples, mangoes, oranges and grapefruits.
Industrial
activities constituted 26.9 percent of GDP in 2001 and the value added
in services the same year was 55.2 percent of the GDP. Export of goods
and services were 29.6 percent of GDP and import of goods and services
were 37.6 percent of GDP in 2001. The overall budget balance, including
grants was –2.0 percent in 2001.
Besides
agriculture and industry, tourism and fishing are among the main
economic sectors of the country.
Investment
Climate
Senegal
qualifies for duty free access to the United States of America market
under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Further, Senegal’s
strategic location and membership in the West African Economic and
Monetary Union (WAEMU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
give access to markets of more than 200 million consumers.
Senegal
has great potential for investment in the following areas:
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Textiles,
dress apparel and garments; |
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Cold
chain plants; |
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Manufacturing
of electrical parts (Rural electrification policy has slated 16,000
rural villages to be electrified); |
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Fruit
processing; |
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Dry
cleaning facilities; |
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Plastic
products; and, |
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Furniture production. |
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Senegal – India
Relations
India
is the second largest trading partner of Senegal after France. India
imports phosphoric acid, phosphates, cashew nuts and raw cotton from
Senegal. On the other hand, Senegal imports rice, metal works,
pharmaceutical products, printed and plain cotton material, machines and
tools, ceramics and glass, and artificial and synthetic material from
India.
Opportunities
for economic cooperation have been identified in the following areas:
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Development
of Small and Medium Enterprises (A Senegalese delegation was
recently in India in this connection); |
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Agriculture; |
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Assistance
with a view to develop horticulture in Senegal; |
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Transfer
of technology (Production, conservation, transportation, promotion
of agricultural and horticultural products; |
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Mechanisation
of agriculture with a plan to set up an Indian tractor firm and
training technicians; and, |
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Consolidation
and extension of the Indian Agricultural Development Programme. |
There
will soon be opportunities in the mining sector. Senegal intents to
reactivate the files concerning the production of phosphates at MATAM,
the MIFERSO iron mines and research on oil deposits with Indian public
or private partners.
There
are also projects in the sectors of energy, cottage industry, surface
and rail transport (A plan exists to set up a plant manufacturing TATA
wagons in Senegal), construction of railway lines and the renovation of
existing lines with standard gauge.
The
two parties identified several areas of cooperation and all that remains
is for concrete action to take place between these two countries sharing
diplomatic links since 1974.
High-level delegations are waiting on either side
and it is hoped that they will contribute to boosting economic relations
between the two countries.
Senegal
Country Data
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Official Name:
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Republic of Senegal
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Capital:
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Dakar
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Natural Resources:
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Fish, phosphates, iron ore
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Population:
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11,126,832
(July 2005 est.) |
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Population growth
rate:
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2.48% (2005 est.)
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Languages:
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French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
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Religions:
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Muslim 94%, Christian 5%, indigenous beliefs 1%,
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GDP:
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US$18.36 billion
(2004 est.)*
Real growth rate: 3.2% (2004 est.)
Per capita: US$1,700 (2004 est.)* |
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Industries:
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Agricultural and fish processing, phosphate
mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, construction
materials
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Main
Exports:
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Fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products,
phosphates, cotton
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Main
Imports:
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Foods and beverages, consumer goods, capital
goods, petroleum products
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Currency:
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CFA franc
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* Purchasing Power
Parity
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