Dakar, Jan 7 (APS) – The United States has invested “more than 500 million dollars” – approximately 315.5 billion CFA francs, according to the current rate of the dollar – in Senegal over the last ten years, specifying that this investment has nothing to do with those of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), APS learned from the head of the economic and commercial section of the American embassy in Senegal, Katherine Musgrove Ketchum.
‘’Senegal is a key partner of the Development Finance Corporation […]which invested approximately $500 million [américains]since 2014, in economic sectors in Senegal, including energy, health, agri-food and business support,” said Ms. Ketchum.
”And, of course, there is funding from the MCC,” she added in an interview with the APS, specifying that this amount does not take into account the investments of the Millennium Challenge Account, which amount to several hundred billion CFA francs.
The Development Finance Corporation is theinstitution responsible for financing development of the American government, particularly in the private sector.
Selon Katherine Musgrove Ketchum, Around fifty American companies are part of the private sector operating in Senegal.
”Meet periodically to discuss important issues”
The Senegalese-American joint cooperation commission, which held its first meeting last November in Washington, will increase investment opportunities between the two countries, according to Katherine Musgrove Ketchum.
”It is a platform intended to promote bilateral economic cooperation. It will increase investment opportunities and strengthen ties […] between the two countries,” she said, speaking of the said commission.
This body offers the United States and Senegal the opportunity to “meet periodically to discuss important subjects”, assures Katherine Musgrove Ketchum.
Mme Ketchum hopes, moreover, that the visit made to Silicon Valley in September by the Senegalese president will give rise to partnerships between companies in this American industrial zone. ”We hope that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s visit to Silicon Valley will yield several positive results […] This visit opened new avenues of collaboration, particularly in technology, digital infrastructure and entrepreneurship.”
”His visit could generate partnerships between Silicon Valley companies and Senegalese companies […] President Faye has raised the profile of Senegal in Silicon Valley, which may push American investors to be interested in Senegal’s potential, she continued.
”We hope that [sa visite] will lead to increased investment, more innovation and more jobs,” insisted Katherine Musgrove Ketchum.
ESF/ASG
