For three days, the Cape Verdean capital hosted a fact-finding mission of significant strategic importance for economic relations between Senegal and Cape Verde. Led by the Senegalese Shippers' Council (COSEC), the Senegalese delegation, composed notably of the directors general of the ARM (Senegalese Maritime Regulatory Authority), COSAMA (Senegalese Maritime Regulatory Authority), and ASEPEX (Senegalese Export Promotion Agency), held numerous high-level meetings with a clearly defined objective, aligned with the ambition of sub-regional economic integration championed by His Excellency the President of the Republic and the Government's commitment to making Senegal a logistics hub: strengthening the Dakar-Praia corridor. This vision is a priority for the Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy.

Following the President of the Republic's official visit to Cape Verde last year, this mission is part of a strategy to consolidate and accelerate trade. After a successful initial pilot phase in cement exports, the Senegalese authorities now intend to significantly diversify their offerings, focusing on the agricultural and fisheries sectors.

From the outset, with His Excellency Ely Sy BEYE, the diagnosis was clear: despite the excellent diplomatic relations between Dakar and Praia, the volume of trade remains below its potential. In a country where nearly 90% of needs are met by imports, the opportunities are obvious for Senegal, which considers Cape Verde a highly strategic partner. “ The President of the Republic considers the Dakar-Praia corridor as one of the priority routes. Transport and logistics must therefore be at the heart of the planning for the realization of this ambition, which we share with key organizations such as the ARM, COSAMA, and ASEPEX ,” recalled the Director General of COSEC, Ndéye Rokhaya THIAM.

Obstacles identified, but surmountable

Received by the Cape Verdean Prime Minister, the Senegalese delegation noted a strong political will to strengthen bilateral economic relations. “ For economic relations to flourish, political will is essential, and it is very strong on the part of the Cape Verdean government. Now we must be pragmatic and work together to remove obstacles and seize opportunities. We have a positive experience with the importation of cement from Senegal, which has helped to lower prices ,” he affirmed.

Discussions with the Ministries of Commerce, Agriculture and Finance, as well as with Customs, the Port and the structures in charge of investment, have made it possible to identify three main obstacles: the irregularity of maritime links, non-tariff barriers and constraints related to phytosanitary standards.

However, technical discussions helped to put these obstacles into perspective. Standards appear to be largely harmonized between the two countries, limiting the risk of border blockages. Furthermore, Senegal's expertise, already proven in demanding markets such as Europe and the United States, constitutes a major asset for reassuring Cape Verdean partners. The main challenge therefore remains logistical. On this point, COSAMA, through its Director General, affirmed its determination to play a central role in ensuring the smooth and predictable flow of trade. “We will take all necessary steps to facilitate transactions between the two countries and support the political will of both states. If the administrative conditions are met, COSAMA, along with its partners, is ready to provide a vessel to facilitate the crossing.”

From diagnosis to action

The final day of the mission marked a decisive turning point, with a clear shift towards operational implementation. Through the Cape Verdean Minister of Finance, the delegation received strong signals in favor of investment and trade facilitation. He proposed a decidedly proactive approach: launching a pilot maritime link, testing the model in real-world conditions, evaluating it, and then adjusting it to accelerate trade flows. To support this initiative, a joint technical team will be formed, combining the expertise of both countries.

The General Directorate of Customs in Praia has already paved the way by clarifying the mechanisms for advance customs clearance and duty exemptions on certain strategic products. A dedicated "focal point" has been identified to personally assist each Senegalese operator with these procedures.

Sectors ready to move forward

Among economic actors, particularly in the agricultural sectors (mango, potato, onion, tomato, carrot, fishing, salt, peanut), the willingness to get involved is clear. With significant production capacities, these sectors see the Cape Verdean market as a concrete opportunity for growth.

A significant production whose quality is confirmed by the Director of the Senegalese Export Promotion Agency: “ I want to reassure you about the quality of Senegalese products that are found on European, American and other markets. We are well regarded abroad because we are very demanding about what we offer. ”

At the end of the mission, one conclusion is clear: the obstacles, while real, are not insurmountable. Even better, they are now clearly identified and accompanied by shared potential solutions. Between a strong political will, economic complementarities, and the mobilization of public and private stakeholders, the Dakar-Praia corridor seems to be entering a new phase. The challenge now is to transform this potential into a strong and sustainable economic reality by implementing the commitments made on the ground, thereby making this geographical proximity a true engine of trade and regional integration.

The meeting with Senegalese operators in Praia, the culmination of this prospecting effort, was a pivotal moment in the mission. Discussions between the delegation's producers and Senegalese traders based in Praia were extremely fruitful, resulting in a concrete partnership through orders for certain Senegalese products that will soon be exported to Praia. COSEC intends to fully commit to supporting this pilot phase of exports from Senegal to Praia.