Bargny-Sendou, a strategic hub for Moroccan operators in Senegal

The new mineral port of Bargny-Sendou, located 40 km from Dakar, is attracting more and more Moroccan economic operators. A true logistics hub, this port infrastructure offers numerous strategic advantages to Kingdom companies seeking to strengthen their presence in Senegal and West Africa. It is in this context that a meeting was held on Friday, November 15 in Dakar with Moroccan economic operators active in Senegal focused on the prospects and opportunities for development in this West African country.

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The meeting brought together Moroccan operators in the strategic sectors of hydrocarbons, cereals and construction and active in the new port of Bargny-Sendou, indicates a press release from the Moroccan embassy in Senegal. These are the Akwa Africa Group, Mass Céréales, the Senegalese subsidiary of the Moroccan Holmarcom Group, as well as those responsible for Senegal Minergy Port (SMP), the entity responsible for developing this port infrastructure. The involvement of these Moroccan operators constitutes a means of contributing to unclogging the port of the city of Dakar while offering significant capacities for strategic storage, it is emphasized.

Relieving congestion in the port of Dakar and stimulating trade

The involvement of Moroccan groups such as Akwa Africa, Mass Céréales and Sénégal Minergy Port in Bargny-Sendou aims to “contribute to the decongestion of the port of Dakar while offering significant capacities for strategic storage”, according to Ambassador Hassan Naciri. This Moroccan presence in this strategic port area testifies to “the common desire to strengthen trade and stimulate local development,” he adds.

Key sectors: hydrocarbons, cereals and construction

Moroccan operators present in Bargny-Sendou are active in strategic sectors for the Senegalese economy: hydrocarbons with Akwa Africa, cereals with Mass Céréales (a subsidiary of Holmarcom), and construction with Sénégal Minergy Port, in charge of development port. Their contribution is “important for the Senegalese economy” according to the Moroccan diplomat, who sees in them “relays of Moroccan expertise”.

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The Moroccan diplomat is also “convinced that Moroccan groups will make their contribution by drawing inspiration from Moroccan successes such as the Tangier-Med Port and the bulk carrier port of Jorf Lasfar”. The Kingdom’s expertise in the management of latest generation port infrastructure thus constitutes added value for the development of Bargny-Sendou.

A strategic logistics hub

Initiated by the Senegalese State, the mineral port of Bargny-Sendou aims to “take care of the large volumes of imports and exports of mining, mineral, petroleum and cereal products”. It will help resolve major logistical challenges for trade in Senegal, by decongesting the port of Dakar and providing increased storage capacities. The Port makes it possible, in fact, to relieve congestion in the Senegalese capital, which was facing saturation of its capacities, hampering trade. Bargny-Sendou thus offers an essential load shedding solution.

“Thanks to the pooling of efforts between Senegal Minergy Port and the various stakeholders, the external developments still in progress can be finalized as soon as possible, for the benefit of all,” hopes Naciri. Moroccan operators already present will then have great opportunities for growth and expansion in this logistics platform integrated into the regional and African value chain.

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This strong presence of Kingdom businesses in Bargny-Sendou thus contributes to the strengthening of economic and commercial ties between Morocco and Senegal, under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. It is fully in line with the dynamic of bilateral cooperation desired by the two countries.