Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 28 September 2016 – Two new agreements totaling US $356 million will help finance transport and education projects in Senegal.

The agreements were signed by His Excellency Amadou Ba, Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning “IDB Governor for Senegal” and His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, President of the Islamic Development (IDB) Group, and IDB will contribute US $337 million towards the construction of a 36-kilometer Regional Express Train Project, which will connect the Capital Dakar to the new AIBD Airport via Diamniadio city. Once operational, the new train will reduce travel time between the two points from 90
minutes to just 30 minutes, resulting in socio-economic benefits for the whole country.

IDB will also provide US $19 million for the Vocational Training and Literacy Program Project, which will reduce poverty by creating job opportunities for young people and women, especially in rural areas. Nearly 300 villages will benefit from the project.

The meeting between the Senegalese Minister His Excellency Amadou Ba and the accompanying delegation with Dr. Ali and IDB President elect, Dr. Bandar Hajjar, took place at IDB headquarters in Jeddah where they discussed ways to enhance the ongoing successful cooperation between Senegal and IDB.

The Minister conveyed greetings and appreciation from His Excellency Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, to Dr. Ali for his leadership of IDB and for IDB’s significant contribution and support to Africa, and Senegal in particular. He added that the Bank has been the country’s long-time strategic partner in socio-economic development.

The Senegalese Minister also conveyed President Sall’s congratulations to Dr. Hajjar, wishing him success in his new post as President of IDB and reaffirming that cooperation between Senegal and IDB Group should continue in the future.

Expressing their appreciation to the Republic of Senegal for its continued support for the IDB Group and its office in Dakar, Dr. Ali and Dr. Hajjar underlined the readiness of the IDB Group to continue helping the Senegalese people achieve success and prosperity.

Since September 1976, Senegal has maintained solid cooperation with IsDB. To date, IDB has approved US $2.4 billion for 132 development projects in different sectors in Senegal. The IDB Group has also financed 28 foreign trade operations in the country as part of its ongoing plans to promote intra-trade among IDB Group member countries.