In recent years, digital technology has taken a central place in the economic and social development of Senegal. For the years to come, the government intends to intensify its efforts and take full advantage of the opportunities offered by this booming sector.
Senegal has made digital technology an essential pillar of its long-term development strategy. On Monday October 14 in Dakar, the government officially presented the national development policy document entitled “Senegal 2050”, which charts the path towards a profound transformation of the country which takes into account digital technologies.
« Today, digital is the engine of the global economy. Our ambition is to make digital the driving force of the Senegalese economy tomorrow, by promoting large-scale adoption to improve daily life, stimulate the economy and strengthen governance. », declared Victor Ndiaye, CEO of the Performances Group firm and co-author of the National Transformation Agenda “Senegal 2050”.
Over the next 25 years, Senegal aims to digitize all sectors of its economy. Priorities include the digitalization of land and real estate, an initiative aimed at strengthening equity in access to land and improving tax justice. In addition, a reliable digital identity system will be put in place to allow citizens to simply connect to different online services.
The development of quality infrastructure, such as campuses dedicated to innovation and training, and robust digital infrastructure is also at the heart of this strategy. The plan calls for the creation of new smart cities that will serve as centers of technological and economic development.
In terms of human capital, the document emphasizes the creation of a dynamic ecosystem of economic activities and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) supported by three to four key growth sectors. These sectors will be supported by local champions, whose objective will be to produce high value-added goods intended for export.
Education and training will also be at the heart of this digital transformation. Schools, universities and training centers will integrate learning about cutting-edge technologies into their programs, in order to prepare every Senegalese to take part in this new digital economy.
The implementation of these projects will be detailed in the national digital strategy “Technological New Deal” currently being developed, which will define the concrete steps to achieve these ambitious objectives. The final objective is to guarantee an inclusive and sustainable digital transformation, in order to position Senegal among the most advanced economies in the region by 2050.
Samira Njoya
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