BUSINESS
SENEGAL: towards a mega-plan SME.
A mega-SME action plan is being prepared. Led by the Development Agency and supervising small and medium-sized enterprises (ADEPME), the scheme will bring together 70 entities involved in the life of small and medium-sized enterprises under the label “Network SME Senegal”.
The main objective of this network, which held a mega coordination meeting last August, is to raise the contribution of SMEs from 20% today to more than 35% in the country’s GDP and by 2025 create formal and sustainable jobs.
The action plan, which relies on increased synergies between financial and non-financial support structures and professional organizations, concerns access to finance, market access, innovation and territorialization, and technical and managerial capabilities.
Banks and financing structures will be used to increase access to finance from 16% to 30%. In the long term, the rate of access of SMEs to public procurement will have to increase from 28% to 40%. For ADEPME’s Director General, Idrissa Diabira, “the ambition aimed at through this action plan is to change the typology of SMEs in Senegal, making them more viable.”
Currently, 80% of these SMEs have a status of self-entrepreneurs. According to the recent survey carried out by the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD), SMEs represent 99.8% of enterprises in Senegal but weigh less than 20% of GDP. The tax burden is borne by only 3% of these SMEs, most of which are not formalized. In addition, 0.2% of large companies make up 60% of the total turnover of the segment.
The plan of action that will be preceded by an emergency program 2018-2020 is a whole that is driven by the demand of markets: public procurement, private contracting or export markets.
The year 2018, which has just been defined as inclusive growth by Head of State Macky Sall, will be dedicated to SMEs and entrepreneurship for young people and women in particular. It should mark an essential step in the implementation of this transversal program by its direct link with the 27 mega projects of the Emerging Senegal Plan.
Source: FinancialAfrik
The presidency of Togo has announced that the project to exploit the manganese mine of Nayega, located in the Savanes region in the north of the country, is entering its operational phase. According to a statement issued on June 10, 2025, production is scheduled to start at the end of June 2025, with an initial volume of 4,000 tons per month, which should gradually double to reach 8,000 tons per month.
Keras Resources is the technical partner retained by the Togolese government to carry out this project. A statement from Keras, relayed by the presidency, details that the company signed a cooperation agreement in 2023 with the Togolese state, owner of the mine through the Togolese Manganese Company (STM). Under the terms of this agreement, Keras will receive a remuneration of 1.5% of the mine’s gross revenue for three years for its advisory services, as well as 6% for brokering services.
The reserves of the Nayega mine are estimated at 8.5 million tonnes, which would allow exploitation over a period of 11 years. The authorities of Lomé welcome the expected contribution of the mine to the national budget, a benefit that should be strengthened by the rigorous management of the generated revenues, as indicated by our colleagues from Agence Afrique.
With a growing global demand for manganese, particularly in steel alloys and renewable energy technologies, Togo is seeking to assert itself as an essential supplier of this strategic ore. This positioning could play a catalytic role for the national economy, always according to information from the Africa Agency.
Source: senego / Photo credit: Republicoftogo.com
The Gabonese government decided on Friday to ban the import of broilers in order to promote national poultry production and ensure food security, according to the final communiqué of the council of ministers chaired by the head of state, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.
The ban will be effective from 1 January 2027, thus leaving a period of 18 months (1 year and 6 months) for actors in the sector to structure themselves, invest and prepare to meet national demand.
“This measure aims to restore domestic poultry production, boost agricultural investment, reduce food dependency and strengthen the trade balance,” the government hopes. Gabon also hopes to foster “the emergence of a network of rural jobs, the rise in quality of products consumed locally and the creation of an economic ecosystem around this sector”.
The government has also planned a detailed operational plan to be presented within 45 days by the ministers responsible for economy and trade.
Libreville dreams of reducing its dependence on poultry imports and strengthening the country’s food security. In addition, the promotion of local poultry farming should have a positive impact on rural areas, generating jobs and contributing to the development of a vibrant poultry ecosystem.
Imported frozen chicken is the most consumed food in Gabon because of its low price and packaging ready to be thrown into a pot.
“The star of the freezer” is how Gabonese people refer to frozen chicken because it is often the only food, if not the default food, found in the freezers of Gabonese families.
Frozen chicken and meat are generally imported from Latin America and Europe. Their massive presence on the market has destroyed local production.
The Council of Ministers also announced a ban on exporting crude manganese from 1 January 2029. The objective is to promote local industrial development, create jobs and maximize the value of this resource, of which Gabon is the world’s second largest producer.
Sources: gabonactu.com
Mauritania is in the spotlight. On Thursday, May 29, 2025, Sidi Ould Tah was elected president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), at the annual meeting of the institution held in Abidjan. He succeeds Akinwumi Adesina of Nigeria, in office since 2015.
His election came after a hard-fought duel against Samuel Munzele Maimbo of Zambia, who finished in second place. The election, which was marked by major geopolitical and economic issues, took place against a background of high expectations regarding governance and development financing on the continent.
The Senegalese Amadou Hott, long perceived as one of the favorites, finishes in third place, followed by the South African Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala. Despite significant diplomatic support, notably for Hott, the momentum in favour of Sidi Ould Tah has prevailed in the last few rounds.
Former minister and general manager of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), Sidi Ould Tah is recognized for his experience and strategic vision. He will officially take office on 1 September 2025.
Photo credit: Forbes Africa
