The new Senegalese authorities are firmly committed to promoting the country's attractiveness on the international stage. It is with this in mind that the Senegal-Japan Business Forum Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai was held. Organized in partnership with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) as part of Senegal's National Day, this economic meeting, which took place on Monday, August 25, is an opportunity to transform Senegal's innovations into lasting and concrete partnerships, according to Minister Serigne Guèye Diop.

Objective: “to strengthen mutual cooperation between the two countries”

In his welcoming address, Dr. Serigne Guèye Diop, Commissioner General for Senegal's participation in the Osaka-Kansai 2025 World Expo, emphasized Senegal's ambition to participate in this global event. According to him, the Teranga country's pavilion at the Osaka 2025 Expo highlights the values and structuring projects of Vision Senegal 2050.

"The Senegal Pavilion, built on the theme "Designing the society of the future, imagining our life of tomorrow," is striking in its ambition and innovation. It highlights the values and structuring projects of Vision Senegal 2050, with the sub-themes "Saving Lives," "Inspiring Lives," and "Connecting Lives," through weeks of activities, discussion panels, and the highlighting of our catalytic projects. Our pavilion, designed as a "crossroads for the interconnection of peoples," is the embodiment of this vision. It was designed to offer you a glimpse of a modern, bold Senegal, faithful to its values of Téranga and solidarity," said Dr. Serigne Guèye Diop.

He added: “Since its opening, our pavilion has generated remarkable enthusiasm, with an average of 30,000 visitors per day, and has been praised for its quality and innovation. It has provided a unique platform for our companies, allowing them to demonstrate their expertise, forge promising relationships with international partners, and explore new opportunities in the Japanese and Asian markets. This positive momentum confirms the potential of our products and the talent of our entrepreneurs. It validates the strategy that preceded our participation: to position Senegal as a preferred, innovative, and forward-looking business destination.”

Here, the minister presented Senegal to Japanese investors as a stable country full of opportunities and progress. "With its new strategic resources such as gas and oil, and driven by virtuous governance, the country is committed to carrying out structuring projects in key sectors: renewable energy, agro-industry, digital technology, and the transformation of our resources," he said, adding that the fundamental wealth of his country remains "its talented, entrepreneurial youth determined to be the architects of its future."

“An opportunity to transform this momentum into lasting and concrete partnerships”

For the Commissioner General of Senegal's participation in the Osaka-Kansai 2025 World Expo, this Senegal-Japan Economic and Investment Forum is an opportunity to transform this positive momentum into lasting and concrete partnerships. "This is the time to move from discovery to commitment, to realize the ambitions carried by the State's priority projects. We hope that these exchanges will lead to strategic alliances, the launch of joint projects, and the definitive strengthening of economic ties between Senegal, Japan, and the world. Senegal is more open to business than ever and ready to co-construct the future," concluded Minister Serigne Guèye Diop.

This Senegal-Japan trade forum was chaired by His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of the Republic of Senegal, in the presence of the President of JETRO, Norihiko Ishiguro; the Vice President of the Movement of Senegalese Enterprises (MDES), Baba Tandian; the President of Kansai Economic Federation, Masayoshi Matsumoto; among others. It took place in two high-level panels whose themes are: "Investing in Senegal: a strategic center in West Africa" and "Senegal, the gateway to West Africa: exports and strategic partnership opportunities".

These themes were addressed by Minister Serigne Guèye Diop, Director General of COSEC, Rokhaya Thiam; Director General of FONSIS, Babacar Gningue; Director General of Dakar Liaison Office, Mitsubishi Corporation, Hiromi Ohara; Director General of BNDE, Mamadou Faye; Director General of ASPT, Adama Ndiaye; Director General of ASEPEX, Modou Mbène Guèye; Director of European and African Sales, Komatsu Ltd, Toshio Kurokawa; Director General of Sucrecube Japan/Tumiqui Japan, Koichi Sato; Director of JETRO Abidjan, Koichiro Nagaya; and Director General of APIX, Bakary Séga Bathily.