The General Assembly of the Kaffrine Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture voted on the regional budget for 2026 this Monday. The proceedings took place in a calm atmosphere and were marked by strong support from members for the strategic directions presented.

According to the president of the chamber, Dr. Moustapha Diop, the major point to remember is "the significant increase in the investment budget, which has gone from 126 million to 226 million CFA francs."

An increase which, according to him, "clearly reflects the chamber's commitment to the development of economic operators, particularly farmers, livestock breeders and transporters".

This momentum is reinforced by the support of several technical and financial partners. "This commitment is also supported by partners such as Enabel, GIZ and other structures that assist the Kaffrine Chamber of Commerce in the areas of training and formalization of economic actors," he emphasized.

Regarding the operating budget, Dr. Moustapha Diop explains that "last year it amounted to 93 million CFA francs, while this year it has been reduced to 85 million." This decrease, considered controlled, "nevertheless demonstrates that the management remains sound and rigorous."

Overall, the 2026 budget is heavily focused on supporting local economic actors, particularly through training. "It must be emphasized: the majority of our operators are not yet formally registered. Training and formalizing them is therefore an important lever for the development of the local economy," explained the president of the chamber.

The results of the past year are considered satisfactory. In 2025, several young people and women received training and support. The figures show 570 business registrations, 698 NINEA numbers, 80 Economic Interest Groups (GIEs), 37 export-import cards, 32 trader cards, 16 accreditations, 12 barcodes, and 119 members affiliated with the Kaffrine Chamber of Commerce.

For 2026, the chamber plans to maintain this momentum. "Training remains essential, as it is a prerequisite for accessing official documents, particularly the trade register, which has become mandatory for operating legally," Dr. Diop reminded everyone. He also announced that, despite some setbacks encountered at the end of the year, "cooperation with Enabel should allow us to mobilize additional resources, especially for transportation, in order to reach more departments and formalize as many economic actors as possible."

Present at this general assembly, Jean-Paul Diouf, head of the office of the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Senegal, expressed his satisfaction with the smooth progress of the proceedings. "Overall, the proceedings went very well. The key takeaway is the considerable increase in the investment budget, which strengthens the confidence of economic stakeholders and operators," he stated.

He also emphasized that "the budget was passed unanimously, which demonstrates the confidence placed in the president and his team." While commending the efforts made, he noted that "this is a chamber that is making an effort despite limited resources."

Regarding state support, Mr. Diouf notes that "the subsidy usually granted has been maintained, which is a positive point," while insisting on the need to continue advocacy "so that certain expected subsidies are actually mobilized."

At the end of this general assembly, the stakeholders hope that these efforts will lead to concrete results, for the benefit of the local economic development of the Kaffrine region.