“Integrated logistics hub and quality of service: the PAD, engine of economic transformation.” This was the theme of the 2026 port opening event organized by the Autonomous Port of Dakar (PAD) on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at the Grand National Theater of Dakar. This institutional event, focused on modernization, innovation, and strategic repositioning, marked the official launch of the Autonomous Port of Dakar’s Strategic Repositioning Plan for the period 2025-2029. The opening ceremony was presided over by the President of the National Assembly of Senegal, Malick Ndiaye, in the presence of the Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy of Senegal, Dr. Fatou Diouf; the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Mali, Ms. Madina Sissokho Dembélé; the Minister of Infrastructure, Déthié Fall; the Minister of Youth and Sports, Ms. Khady Diène Gaye; and the Director General of the Autonomous Port of Dakar, Waly Diouf Bodiang. of the president of the Community of Port Actors of Senegal (CAP); among others.

Objective: "To strengthen the image of the PAD as a key player in national and regional economic development"

The 2026 port reopening marks a decisive step in the transformation and strengthening process of the Autonomous Port of Dakar (PAD). It provides a prime opportunity for the Port of Dakar to officially present the PAD's Strategic Repositioning Plan (PREPAD 2025-2029); to highlight structuring projects; to sign performance contracts with sector directors; to strengthen dialogue with investors, partners, and port users; and to consolidate the management's ambition to make the PAD a modern, efficient, and sustainable regional logistics hub, serving the economic development of Senegal and the sub-region.

This initiative aims to launch a new systemic approach to the Senegalese port platform, based on an inclusive and holistic approach that focuses on optimizing the performance of the entire supply chain. The objective is to officially mark the start of the 2026 port season and strengthen the image of the Port Authority of Dakar (PAD) as a key player in national and regional economic development.

To this end, the Director General of the Autonomous Port of Dakar reviewed the main points of the PREPAD 2025-2029 plan and his ambition for the port. "The Autonomous Port of Dakar's repositioning plan focuses on implementing a new development strategy for the port sector, aligned with public policy frameworks, namely: the national transformation agenda for Senegal by 2050; the sectoral policy letter from the Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy; and the National Port Strategy. The common objective of all these frameworks is to contribute to making Senegal a high-performing and sustainable logistics hub," emphasized Waly Diouf Bodiang.

He adds: "The Repositioning Plan offers solutions designed to integrate Senegal into global value chains, through a change of scale and a new approach to the logistical role of ports. In this dynamic, it puts into perspective a vision articulated around four major ambitions."

According to him, this plan comes in a context of reconfiguration, redefinition of the global production system and consequently of supply chains on a planetary scale.

Eight performance contracts were signed by the directors and coordinators of the units.

To implement this repositioning plan, the Director General of the Port Authority of Douala (PAD) took advantage of the start of the port season to have his staff (directors and unit coordinators) sign performance contracts based on the annual work plans of their respective departments. A total of eight (8) contracts were signed in the presence of the supervisory authority and attendees. "Simply put, the start of the season aims to ensure that every port employee knows who they are, where they are, and where they are going at any given time of year. We need to align ourselves with modern public and private management standards. Our results must be predictable and explainable in retrospect," stated Waly Diouf Bodiang before proceeding with the signing.

Recognition of the work of the former Directors General of the PAD

Organizational life is cyclical, and the changes observed in the global production and distribution system lead port facilities to a constant reconfiguration of their operations and organization. The Senegalese port sector is no exception to this constant. In this regard, Waly Diouf Bodiang stated that, since the establishment of the National Autonomous Port of Dakar (PAD), his predecessors, who honored the meeting with their presence, have all left their indelible mark on the PAD's progress. "Messrs. Pathé Ndiaye and Djibril Ngom placed the PAD under the banner of public management principles; Mr. Bara Sady inaugurated the era of contractualization with the introduction of port terminal concessions; Mr. Cheikh Kanté and Mr. Aboubacar Sadikh Bèye continued and strengthened partnerships; Mr. Mountaga Sy successfully addressed the congestion at the port of Dakar," he acknowledged.

Through this event, the Autonomous Port of Dakar reaffirms its commitment to close collaboration, transparency, and dialogue with all its stakeholders. It also reaffirms its ambition to establish itself as a modern, efficient, and sustainable regional logistics hub, serving the economic development of Senegal and the sub-region.

The 2026 port opening event was structured around four main segments, complemented by additional activities throughout the day, including networking sessions, visits to exhibitions, and thematic panel discussions. It brought together government officials, national and international investors, institutional, technical, and financial partners, port clients and users, media professionals, and all PAD staff.