Africa-Press – Senegal. Japan has injected about 1.216 billion 220 million CFA francs into Senegal « from 1960 to the present day », a total that concerns both non-reimbursable financial and technical cooperation as well as loans, said declared, Thursday, in Dakar, the Minister of Economy, Planning and Cooperation, Oulimata Sarr.
She chaired the opening of the work of the 2023 joint annual review of the cooperation program linking Senegal to Japan.
According to Ms. Sarr, this session of the review of cooperation between the two countries « constitutes an opportunity to have a broad consultation between the stakeholders on the state of implementation of our projects/programmes and to take stock of the technical and financial implementation status of ongoing operations”.
Ms. Oulimata Sarr considers the execution of the portfolio of Japanese projects in Senegal to be « very satisfactory », « insofar as it is always done on the basis of an approach that combines efficiency and effectiveness ».
« I am pleased to note, and to congratulate Japan, the fact that it remains the champion in respect of its commitments vis-à-vis its partners, » she said.
The Minister of Economy, Planning and Cooperation recalled that the active portfolio of Japanese cooperation initiatives includes « nearly thirty projects » in sectors including education, vocational training, health, agriculture, fishing, hydraulics, sanitation, infrastructure and the environment.
This portfolio « is essentially composed of technical assistance projects and includes large-scale ongoing projects », she underlined, citing the construction of the seawater desalination plant in Dakar, the budget support for Universal Health Coverage (CMU), the rehabilitation of Pier 3 of the Autonomous Port of Dakar.
In addition, according to the Minister, “the emergency rehabilitation and strengthening of the energy distribution network in the Dakar region, budget support for the support program for the education sector. »
Oulimata Sarr points out that the project to build a national laboratory for the analysis of fishery and aquaculture products is also part of it. This laboratory should be installed in the urban center of Diamniadio, about thirty kilometers from downtown Dakar.
According to its ambassador to Senegal, Izawa Osamu, “Japan attaches great importance” to cooperation based on human exchanges.
It is in this sense, he argues, that his country brings its experience in development to beneficiary countries, « by assigning experts to several cabinets of sectoral ministries » and by sending « many specialists » to Senegal.
This option aims to « allow a smooth running and [optimal management of projects by sharing their knowledge and experiences at community and national level », argued the Japanese diplomat.
In addition to the 1.216 billion, 220 million FCFA invested in the country, « nearly 1,300 experts and 1,200 Japanese volunteers have been sent to Senegal to implement cooperation on the ground », he added.
« Concrete results have been observed [on the ground in connection with the action of these Japanese experts and volunteers], such as the increase in the rate of self-sufficiency in rice », indicated Izawa Osamu.
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