Dakar, January 15 (APS) – The President of the Republic has called on the concerned government members to « finalize » the new maritime and port policy before the end of March, according to the statement from the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, January 15.
« The Head of State has asked the Prime Minister and the Minister responsible for Maritime and Port Infrastructure to finalize, by the end of March 2025, Senegal’s new maritime and port policy, taking into account the maritime vocation of our country and the various projects completed, ongoing, or planned, » the Council of Ministers’ statement said.
The same source added that « the Head of State emphasized the need, in terms of reforms, to update and expand the governance framework of Senegal’s public and private ports, and to strengthen the National Agency for Maritime Affairs in light of new challenges related to maritime navigation. »
The new maritime and port policy includes several projects, including the construction of 23 ports for artisanal fishing, announced Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko last August.
Bassirou Diomaye Faye urged the government to « accelerate the modernization of ports and fishing docks. »
Port infrastructure should benefit from « an expanded modernization program, » according to the President of the Republic.
« The implementation of the ‘Vision Senegal 2050’ (the country’s national development program) must give special priority to the development of maritime and port infrastructure, » wrote the Minister of Vocational Training in the statement.
Mr. Faye discussed the « urgency of revising the partnership between the State and the Senegalese Maritime Activities Consortium, as well as the need to establish full national sovereignty over the management and development of the Dakar shipyards, with the strategic repositioning of the Ship Repair Infrastructure Company. »
Bassirou Diomaye Faye urged the Minister of Fisheries and Maritime and Port Infrastructure to proceed, with the assistance of her colleagues from the Ministries of Finance and Budget, Industry, and Commerce, with an evaluation and « reorientation » of the missions and activities of the Senegalese Shippers’ Council.
Source: APS
