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India-Senegal Bilateral Relations Political Relations: Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established at Ambassadorial level in 1962, with a resident Indian Mission in Dakar. Both countries enjoy warm and friendly bilateral relations sharing common values of democracy, development and secularism. They are both members of the Non-Aligned Movement and G-15. Bilateral partnership spans diverse fields including urban transport, agriculture, fisheries, rural electrification, human resource development, information technology, health etc. Senegal and India also cooperate under the rubric of TEAM-9, the Techno Economic Approach for Africa India Movement that includes India and 8 countries of West Africa, namely, Burkina Faso, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Senegal. India and Senegal closely work in multilateral fora. Senegal was one of the 24 members which signed the Declaration of Yoga as a “Human Treasure” at the 11th Session of Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Addis Ababa in December 2016. Visits: Special Envoy of Prime Minister (SEPM) and Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan visited Senegal from 8-11 July 2015 to personally invite President Macky Sall to participate in India Africa Forum Summit III (IAFS-III). Minister of State Shri M.J. Akbar visited Dakar in September 2017 as a Special envoy of Prime Minister Modi. President Macky Sall visited India to participate in IAFS-III in October 2015, in May 2017 to participate in the 52nd Annual Meeting of African Development Bank in Gandhinagar. President Sall and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in July 2017 on the sidelines of G20 Summit in Hamburg and in August 2019 on the sidelines of G7 Summit in Biarritz, France. In November 2017, Mr. Mary Teuw Niane, Minister of High Education of Senegal visited India to participate in “India-Africa Sharing Mission on Skills Development” in New Delhi. Senegalese Minister of Petroleum & Energy Mr. Mansour Elimane KANE participated in ISA Founding Conference in New Delhi on March 11, 2018. Senegalese Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation Mr. Mansour FAYE, participated in Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention (MGISC) from 29 September to 2 October 2018. Mr. Faye was accompanied by Mr. Lansana Gagny SAKHO, Director General of Senegalese National Sanitation Office (ONAS). Mr. Ibrahima NIANE, Director of Electricity, Ministry of Petroleum and Energy and Mr. Fadel TRAORE, Chief of Division of Studies at National Agency for Renewable Energy of Senegal participated in First ISA Assembly and 2nd RE-INVEST from 2-5 October 2018. Ms. Aminata Assome DIATTA, Director of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Trade, Consumer Affairs, Informal sector and SMEs of Senegal participated in CII-EXIM Bank Regional Conclave in West Africa in Abuja on 8-9 October 2018. Economic and Commercial Relations: As per DGCIS, Government of India, statistics, Indian exports to Senegal in 2018-19 touched $ 639 mn and imports from Senegal $ 658 mn. Trade over the past five years is given below (in US$ mns):
As to bilateral trade basket, major items of export from India include textiles, food items, automobiles and pharmaceuticals. Major items of import from Senegal are phosphoric acid and raw cashew. Top Indian exports, at 4 digit HS code, to Senegal during 2018-19 were:
Top Indian imports, at 4 digit HS code, from Senegal during 2018-19 were:
India’s investment is mainly in construction, tourism, retail, trading, phosphates, pharmaceuticals etc. The largest investment from India in Senegal is in Industries Chimique du Senegal (ICS). ICS is the flagship company in Senegal which is in the business of manufacturing phosphoric acid from the rock phosphate available in plenty in Senegal. Indian companies viz. Tata Group (Tata Motors, Tata Unitech), Ashok Leyland, Kirloskar Bros, Ajanta Pharma, Sun Pharma, ShapoorjiPallonji, Kalpataru Power Transmission, KEC Ltd., Promac, SenegIndia etc are present in Senegal. In order to increase awareness about business opportunities between India and Senegal and to inform about the opportunities available under our LoCs, this mission has organized four business events in Senegal (two in Dakar, one in Kaolack and one in Kedougou) since January 2018.Embassy of India also put up a KVIC Stall in the 27th edition of annual trade event Dakar International Trade Fair (FIDAK) from November 29, 2018 to December 16, 2018. Development assistance programmes: India has extended Lines of Credit to Senegal in such sectors as agriculture and irrigation, transport, rural electrification, fisheries, women poverty alleviation, IT training and equipment, medical, railways etc. Export Import Bank of India (Exim Bank of India) has extended buyer’s credit for transmission line/ substations/ distribution network project being executed by Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited; and, for supply of vehicles spares and related services by Ashoka Leyland. India supplied 250 e-Rickshaws with lithium-ion batteries to Senegal. On 16 November 2018, External Affairs Minister of India Ms. Sushma Swaraj, at a ceremony held in New Delhi handed over symbolically e-Rickshaws to Ambassador of Republic of Senegal, H.E. Mr. El Hadji Ibou Boye. HMT has set up an Entrepreneurial Training & Development Centre (CEDT) in Dakar in 2002 and upgraded it in 2019. Senegal participated in Hub Earth Station of the Pan-African e-Network Project and joining the internet based tele-education and telemedicine project e-Vidya Bharti and e-ArogyaBhrati (e-VBAB). A 42 days artificial limbs fitment camp was organized in Senegal in May 2019. For the year 2018-19, Senegal utilized all the 25 slots allotted under ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation). Sixteen Senegalese participated in a short-term Special Yoga Course under ITEC organized at SVYASA in Bengaluru from February 4th to March 3rd, 2019. 10 Senegalese diplomats participated in the first Special Course for the diplomats of Senegal and Morocco held in New Delhi from April 15-27, 2019 and organized by Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of India. Cultural Cooperation Indian culture is admired by the people of Senegal. There are dozens of India-friendship associations who conduct cultural programmes centred around Bollywood dance and play an important role in strengthening cultural bonds and people to people level. Some of the Indian cultural events organized in 2019 Senegal included TIRANGA 3.0 – the 3rd edition of Festival of India in Senegal, Dakar; Tiranga Holi, 4th International Day of Yoga; and, and various events related to 150th Mahatma Gandhi Birth Anniversary celebrations. India also offers 10 ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) Scholarships. NRI Population: The Indian community numbers around 500 (five hundred). Most of them are working for Indian companies including those executing development projects under Lines of Credit extended by India. Some of them are running their own businesses. Further information: The link https://asp.embassyofindiadakar.gov.in/eoia/aWn_list.asp?s_keyword=senegal provides further information including press releases on India and Senegal relations. |
India-Senegal Bilateral Relations
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