As part of the 33rd edition of the Dakar International Fair, the 4 Avril hall hosted a strategic meeting organized by the Directorate General of Taxes and Domains on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.

This panel, dedicated to regional economic dynamics, brought together a group of experts including Cheikh Modou Thiam, Director of Planning at the DGPPE (Directorate General for Planning and Economic Policy), Abiboulaye Samb, Director of Operations at APROSI (Association for the Promotion of Social and Solidarity Economy), and Alla Guèye Sène, President of the Economic Commission of the CNES (National Economic and Social Council). Moderated by Professor Abou Kane of FASEG (Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences), the discussions highlighted the structural challenges that still hinder the harmonious development of Senegal.

The observations made by the speakers regarding geographical disparities were unequivocal. Professor Abou Kane notably pointed out that Dakar alone accounts for 46% of the national gross domestic product, leaving only 11% for the Thiès region, which nevertheless holds second place. This profound imbalance underscores the urgent need to strengthen the network of small and medium-sized enterprises and industries in the heart of the regions. While the national development strategy now focuses on eight territorial hubs to boost competitiveness and create synergies between production sectors, the road ahead remains fraught with obstacles.

One of the main obstacles identified lies in the limited financial and human resources available at the local level. According to the panelists, the third phase of decentralization has not yet produced the expected results due to limited operational capacity. Professor Kane emphasized that the state-allocated endowment fund, amounting to less than 70 billion CFA francs, remains far from sufficient to meet the needs of local authorities. This financial constraint is compounded by a shortage of qualified personnel and a lack of initiatives to modernize local governance.

To succeed in the challenge of territorializing development, experts recommend a real interconnection between the natural potential of the land and the industrial fabric.

Citizen participation has also been established as a fundamental pillar of successful public policy. For the speakers, it is not enough for the central government to design large-scale measures; it is imperative that local communities and citizens adopt these policies to ensure their concrete success. Local authorities must therefore become genuine drivers of growth, not simply administrative bodies.