DAKAR: Malaysian companies have been urged to take explore opportunities of investment and trade in Senegal as the potential for growth is huge.
Speaking ahead of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s visit to the republic, Malaysian ambassador to Senegal Dr Shazelina Zainul Abidin said among the sectors ripe for investment were oil and gas, infrastructure, tourism and education.
She said there were only a few Malaysian companies currently invested in Senegal, including Petronas and Iris Corporation Malaysia, which produces identity cards for the republic’s citizens.
“Senegal takes many cues from Malaysia, especially in terms of planning and strategies for national development. There are many things in our country which are used as models by Senegal, such as the new administrative centre of Diamniadio, which is loosely based on Putrajaya.
“This is why Malaysian companies need to take advantage of the opportunities. So, come to Senegal which has a lot of opportunities, potential and stability,” she told Malaysian reporters here Wednesday.
Dr Mahathir arrives later tonight for a two-day visit. Tomorrow, he will attend the Third International Conference on the Emergence of Africa (ICEA).
On the development of Diamniadio, Shazelina said it was a project east of Dakar aimed at reducing congestion in the nation’s capital.
She said it was also a part of Senegal’s national strategy to encourage economic growth.
“(Senegal has) taken a leaf out of Malaysia’s book with Diamniadio as it is modeled somewhat on Putrajaya. There is also one other field of cooperation which is being explored, as Senegal wants to learn how were able to move (the federal administrative centre) from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya.
“This is because they will now have to move their ministries as well as other agencies under the United Nations to Diamniadio,” she said.
On Iris Corporation’s achievements in Senegal, Shazelina said the company was producing identity cards which also contained voter information for the republic.
She said this was a crucial system for Senegal as the country is due to hold presidential elections on Feb 24.
“Senegal is the first country in West Africa which has a national identity card such as this, which its citizens are able to use as identification when crossing the border into neighbouring countries,” she said.
Malaysia and Senegal have had diplomatic relations for 33 years and have cooperated in various fields such as trade and investment.
The total trade between the two countries in 2017 was RM372.6 million, with Malaysian exports to the African nation recorded at RM364.5 million and imports from Senegal at RM8.1 million.
Exports to Senegal include palm oil and other oil palm-based products, agricultural products and food, while imports from Senegal include cotton-based products, fertiliser, minerals, chemicals and iron.