Senegal Calls On Malaysian Companies To Invest And Use It As Gateway To Africa

By Rosemarie Khoo

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 (Bernama) — Senegal is inviting Malaysian companies to invest and form strategic partnerships in the West African nation as part of its ambition to become Malaysia’s gateway to Africa, which has a huge consumer base.

Senegalese ambassador to Malaysia, Abdoulaye Barro, said his country is seeking Malaysian participation in key sectors such as halal products, agriculture, infrastructure, semiconductors, the digital economy and tourism – underscoring its commitment to strengthening bilateral economic ties.

He said that Senegal, as a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU), provides access to a vast market of 1.4 billion people across the continent.

Barro said that by entering Senegal, Malaysia could also gain access to seven other countries which use the same currency – the West African CFA franc. The countries Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, and Togo, make up the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA).

“There is a lot that Malaysian companies can do in Senegal and it is not only limited to Senegal, but to the whole African bloc that has a population of about 1.4 billion. Malaysia is ahead of us in development, and we aspire to learn from its success,” he told Bernama TV’s The Nation ‘Diplomatic Dispatch’ programme.

Barro said Senegal values Malaysia’s expertise in Islamic finance, zakat management, Islamic education and the Hajj, given that about 95 per cent of Senegal’s population are Muslims.

He noted that Malaysia’s Iris Corporation Bhd is already in Senegal through its provision of national identification and passport solutions, a collaboration that has strengthened economic cooperation between the two nations.

The ambassador said Senegal, with its stable political landscape and a young and dynamic population, offers a conducive environment for investment.  The government is also rolling out major initiatives such as the Digital New Deal, which envisions Senegal as a leader in Africa’s digital transformation by 2034, and Senegal 2050, a national transformation agenda to achieve inclusive and sustainable development.

To accelerate this vision, Senegal would be hosting the second edition of the Invest in Senegal Forum on Oct 7-8, 2025, at the Abdou Diouf International Conference Center (CICAD) in Diamniadio, about 30 kilometers from its capital city Dakar. The forum is expected to showcase opportunities in industrial platforms, private sector development, and efforts to establish Dakar as a financial and technological hub.

Senegal is also seeking to formalise cooperation with Malaysia through two agreements expected to be signed in September – the Economic, Social, Technical and Cultural Agreement (ESTCA) and a pact on waqf development.

“We want to enhance South-South cooperation and create mutual benefit with Malaysia and our other partners. We need more investments in agriculture, health, railroads, highways and the digital economy.  Malaysia can play a big role in helping Senegal progress,” Barro added.

— BERNAMA

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