The dramatic increase in the budget of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, from 50 billion FCFA in 2025 to 350 billion FCFA, representing a 609% rise, has inevitably sparked questions and reactions in the National Assembly. Addressing the members of parliament, Minister Serigne Guèye Diop sought to justify "this unprecedented leap by a comprehensive vision of Senegal's industrial policy, rooted in the history of major industrial revolutions and the ambition to fundamentally transform the national economy."

In his address, the minister recalled that "the nations that are industrialized today were built on several successive waves of industrial revolutions, from coal to electricity, and then to information technologies." "While Europe, America, and Asia were developing their industries, Senegal was relegated to the back burner," he observed. According to him, there is a historical lag due in particular to the absence of a truly integrated industrial policy. "It is with this in mind that the government decided to merge the Ministry of Industry with the Ministry of Trade, breaking with an organization deemed counterproductive. On the one hand, we were producing with limited resources; on the other, we were importing without any real protection for our industry. The two ministries were not communicating with each other," lamented Serigne Guèye Diop. For him, it was impossible to sustainably develop national sectors without linking production, processing, and marketing.

The new strategy is based on integrating the three key sectors of the economy: the primary sector (agriculture, livestock, fishing, forestry), the secondary sector (industrial processing), and the tertiary sector (trade and distribution). "This approach now allows the State to better protect local production, as demonstrated by the temporary closure of borders to certain products such as bananas, potatoes, and onions, a measure that has already saved nearly 9 billion CFA francs," according to the minister.

Operationally, a significant portion of the 350 billion will be dedicated to creating a vast network of agro-industrial parks and industrial zones across the country. "We will build 45 agro-industrial parks, at least one per department," announced Serigne Guèye Diop, specifying that 109 billion will be directly invested in the regions for the establishment of modern industrial platforms. Starting this year, 28 platforms will be launched in the central region (Fatick, Kaffrine, Diourbel, Kaolack) and the southern region (Sédhiou, Kolda, Ziguinchor).

Unlike "previous models deemed too expensive, such as the one in Diamniadio," the minister is focusing on "more accessible and competitive industrial zones," where the land will remain state property, sold at very low prices to encourage the establishment of local investors and entrepreneurs. Another major innovation is the systematic integration of incubators and pilot plants within each zone.

For Serigne Guèye Diop, this is the "missing link" in Senegal's industrial development since independence. These incubators will allow young entrepreneurs, economic interest groups (EIGs), and women processors to test, improve, and develop their products before scaling up to industrial production. "You can't build a solid business with money alone. You need technical, commercial, and managerial support," he emphasized. The minister also addressed the strategic issue of inputs, particularly fertilizers. He denounced the paradoxical situation of Senegal exporting hundreds of thousands of tons of phosphates while importing the majority of its fertilizer needs. A strong industrial policy, he believes, will enable the local processing of these resources to achieve true agricultural self-sufficiency.

Behind this budget increase, Serigne Guèye Diop is taking a decidedly protectionist stance, arguing that no great nation has developed without defending its nascent industries. "The United States, China, and Europe protect their markets. Why not us?" he asked the parliamentarians. Finally, the minister announced a decentralization of industry and trade support agencies, long confined to Dakar. These agencies will now be deployed in regional hubs to bring the government closer to local economic actors and accelerate territorial development. For Serigne Guèye Diop, this budget increase is therefore not a luxury, but "a historical necessity."