Ibrahima Thiam, Secretary of State for the Development of SMEs and SMIs, recently expressed his serious concerns regarding the economic dependence of Senegal, particularly in terms of importing products. Invited to the Jury du Dimanche show on Iradio, Mr. Thiam outlined the State’s ambitions to transform and boost the SME and SMI sectors in 2025.
From the outset, the Secretary of State for the development of SMEs and SMIs addressed the question of the competitiveness of SMEs, which he considers essential for the economic development of the country. According to him, the lack of competitiveness of Senegalese SMEs constitutes an obstacle to their development and the creation of added value. He spoke of the difficulties faced by these companies, in particular the high cost of rent in urban areas, which harms their competitiveness.
“When an SME is not competitive, there is no advancement, there is no creation of added value,” he explained. He added that, often, SMEs, for lack of dedicated areas, find themselves paying exorbitant rents, which can reach 700,000 to 800,000 CFA francs per year, which puts them at a disadvantage in a competitive environment.
To remedy this situation according to Mr. Thiam, the government is currently working on the application of the decree of the law on SMEs, passed in 2020. This decree, currently being developed, should make it possible to propose reforms which aim to strengthen the competitiveness of SMEs. One of the solutions envisaged is the creation of special economic zones, dedicated to SMEs and SMIs, as part of the 8 economic poles which should see the light of day in 2025.
While waiting for the establishment of these economic hubs, Ibrahima Thiam indicated that the government is seeking to strengthen other economic and social projects to support SMEs. These initiatives aim to facilitate their launch and improve their business environment. “We work with local authorities, technical services, Apix, the Ministry of Industry and all stakeholders in economic and social zones to enable SMEs to develop,” he said.
The Secretary of State expressed his conviction that these efforts will enable Senegalese SMEs to overcome their current difficulties and position themselves as key players in the local, sub-regional and international economy.
