The Acceleration, Competitiveness and Employment Program (PACE) presented, this Friday in Saint-Louis, the results of the monographic study dedicated to the Northern Territorial Hub. Conducted in partnership with the National Agency for Territorial Development (ANAT), this study provides a detailed map of the area's resources, potential, and value chains.

 

It aims to guide public policies more effectively and to strengthen territorial economic development.

 

Understanding the economic dynamics of the North

 

According to Moussa Sall, consultant within the Competitiveness Task Force, this study is part of the overall vision of the Government of Senegal, defined by the Transformation Agenda and the National Strategy for the Development of the Private Sector.

 

"The challenge is to establish economically sustainable and responsible zones in the eight territories, capable of establishing their own competitiveness. That is why we started with a monograph of the cluster to identify promising sectors and investment priorities," he explained.

 

The study identified 24 key sectors, including 5 priority sectors for in-depth support: tourism, rice, hydrocarbons, onions, fishing, (and two other sectors mentioned in the technical documents).

 

These sectors will be the subject of a detailed mapping of their value chains, in order to identify weak links, strengthening needs and investment levers.

 

"The objective is to target local champions, SMEs, SMIs and family businesses in order to better support and finance them through the mechanisms put in place by the State," adds Moussa Sall.

 

A participatory and private sector-oriented approach

 

Aziz Fall, coordinator at the Directorate General for External Financing Cooperation and Private Sector Development, supports this meeting, which marks an important step.

 

"This feedback allows us to share the specificities, opportunities and constraints of the North Pole. The idea is to see how these elements can be used to boost the local economy with a strong presence of the private sector," he emphasizes.

 

He also announced the upcoming launch of the second phase, focused on the complete mapping of value chains.

 

“We are satisfied with the quality of the work done. The support of the territorial authorities, in particular the governor of Saint-Louis, was crucial. The detailed results will be presented later in the meeting,” he said.

 

With this monograph, PACE and its partners are laying the groundwork for structured economic development in the Northern Pole. Highlighting priority sectors and involving the private sector should ultimately increase the region's competitiveness and strengthen its role in the national growth strategy.