By Obinna Uballa
Senegal says it is set to showcase its ambitions as a rising investment hub when the Forum Invest in Senegal 2025 (Fii Senegal 2025) opens on Tuesday in Diamniadio, with the government aiming to build on nearly $3 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) recorded in 2024.
The high-level gathering, held under the patronage of President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, comes at a pivotal moment as the country prepares for its first natural gas exports, which are projected to help drive economic growth of 8.4% in 2025, a statement from the organisers said on Monday.
“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 state agency in charge of investment promotion and major infrastructure projects.
With the theme “Connecting opportunities, building the future,” the forum will spotlight strategic projects across three key sectors:
Energy: Development of the Yakaar-Teranga gas fields, alongside investments in solar and wind power, to establish Senegal as a regional energy hub and cost-competitive electricity provider.
Infrastructure: Flagship ventures such as the $1.2 billion Ndayane Port, the Dakar-Bamako transport corridor, and major water supply projects aimed at boosting logistics and ensuring resource security.
Digital: Expansion of a sovereign cloud, a national data centre, and targeted support for fintech, AI, and cybersecurity startups to diversify the economy beyond traditional sectors.
Officials are betting on Senegal’s political stability, strategic location with access to 400 million consumers across ECOWAS, and a raft of new regulatory reforms, including a revamped Investment Code, Startup Act, and a strengthened public-private partnership system, to further entice global investors.
“Fii Senegal 2025 is more than a forum, it’s a signal to global markets. Senegal seeks to position itself as a key player in Africa’s transformation, guided by transparency, innovation, and sustainability,” Bathily added.
Authorities hope the 2025 forum will go beyond big announcements, converting pledges into bankable projects that will accelerate the country’s economic transformation.
