Senegal is positioning itself as West Africa’s next major investment hub as it hosts the Forum Invest in Senegal 2025 (Fii Senegal 2025), which kicks off on Tuesday in Diamniadio. The government says the forum is designed to build on the nearly $3 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) the country attracted in 2024.
Coming under the patronage of President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, the forum is expected to rally investors around projects in energy, infrastructure, and digital technology. It also comes at a decisive moment, with Dakar preparing for its first natural gas exports—an opportunity expected to lift growth to 8.4% in 2025.
“Senegal is positioning itself as a crossroads between Africa and the rest of the world, a gateway for attracting capital, technology, and expertise,” said Bakary Séga Bathily, Director General of APIX, the government agency for investment promotion and major infrastructure projects.
Themed “Connecting opportunities, building the future,” the event will highlight flagship projects:
Energy: Harnessing the Yakaar-Teranga gas fields along with solar and wind power to make Senegal a regional energy hub.
Infrastructure: The $1.2 billion Ndayane Port, the Dakar-Bamako corridor, and major water schemes to boost logistics and secure resources.
Digital: Development of a sovereign cloud, a national data centre, and a startup ecosystem in fintech, AI, and cybersecurity.
Officials say Senegal is banking on its political stability, ECOWAS market access, and new reforms, including a modern Investment Code, Startup Act, and improved public-private partnerships, to give investors more confidence.
“Fii Senegal 2025 is more than a forum, it’s a signal to global markets,” Bathily said. “Senegal seeks to position itself as a key player in Africa’s transformation, guided by transparency, innovation, and sustainability.”
Authorities insist the forum will not stop at attracting pledges but will focus on converting them into concrete, bankable projects capable of driving long-term growth.
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