Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, who is on a three-nation tour, arrived in Senegal yesterday where he was received by Ms. Aissata Tall Sall, Minister of Foreign Affairs from the Senegalese side at Dakar airport. This is the first ever high level Indian visit to Senegal and is taking place at a time when both countries are celebrating 60 years of their diplomatic relations.
In the capital city of Dakar, Shri Naidu led delegation level talks with the President of Senegal, H.E. Mr Macky Sall and assured Senegal of India’s continued commitment to support the socio-economic development of Senegal through all means, bilateral, regional and international frameworks.
During these talks, three MoUs were signed by both sides to further deepen their bilateral partnership in various areas. The first MoU pertains to visa-free regime for Diplomatic and Official passport holders which would strengthen cooperation between the two countries through seamless travel of officials/diplomats.
Vice President expressed happiness over the fact that Indo-Senegalese trade saw a 37% increase to US$ 1.5 billion during last one year despite Covid-19 pandemic. He also called for diversifying our trade basket, particularly in the sectors of Agriculture, Oil & Gas, Health, Railways, Mining, Defence, green energy etc.
Referring to huge Indian import of phosphates, important component of fertilizers, from Senegal, Shri Naidu said that Indian companies, especially heavy earth moving equipment companies, can offer their expertise in this area.
Thanking Senegal for becoming a member of the International Solar Alliance, the Vice President said that India looks forward to working closely with Senegal within ISA and One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative.
Reiterating that India is committed to being a reliable partner of Senegal in its march towards development, Shri Naidu announced that Phase II of the upgradation of Entrepreneurial Training & Development Centre (CEDT) at Dakar was approved and its implementation would commence soon. It may be noted that CEDT was set up in Dakar in 2002 under Indian grant assistance and every year around 1000 youth, though mainly from Senegal, but many also from 19 other African countries, get trained in six different disciplines at the Centre.
Noting that Senegal, being a francophone country, is not able to avail various training/capacity building programmes under ITEC which are in English language, Shri Naidu offered a Special ITEC Course on the English training for Senegalese public servants for 20 persons at a time.
