2024-03-27 07:53:02
Bassirou Diomaye Faye, elected in the first round on Sunday March 24, should take office on April 3, with a disruptive program to try to tackle immense challenges such as food, debt and employment.
Food sovereignty is at the top of the economic program of the new elected president of Senegal. A priority that Meissa Babou, teacher-researcher at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, approves of. “ We must break with the current model of our economy, which is an import model, with what that costs us in foreign currency. Because we import everything we eat, from onions to rice to potatoes. »
Eight regional agro-industrial hubs
In this same perspective, he adds, “ we must immediately think about breaking leonine fishing contracts “. The economist welcomes Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s project to shift the fishing zone by 20 km, for the benefit of Senegalese fishermen.
The Dakar region still concentrates 80% of public investments, deplores Cherif Sy, former professor at the National School of Applied Economics. The latter therefore looks favorably on the new team’s economic decentralization project. Eight regional agro-industrial hubs should be created, specifies Cheikh Fatma Diop, author of the ex-Pastef program, so that businesses can set up, particularly SMEs and SMIs, “ to exploit resources around peanuts in the center, around fruits and vegetables in the south, around fish products on the coast “. It is also about “ allow young people to access maximum opportunities through industrialization and achieve total valorization of the primary sector ».
Renegotiate debt and fishing and gas contracts
To regain budgetary comfort, the new president’s team plans to renegotiate the Senegalese debt, ” on the model of Zambia or Ghana “. And to recover tax resources by removing exemptions and broadening the very small tax base.
It will also not refrain from reviewing signed contracts, including in gas. “ By definition, any contract signed under non-optimal conditions could be revisedindicates the inspiration of the program, Cheikh Fatma Diop. These are known international practices. »
Rectification on the future currency
On the other hand, Bassirou Diomaye Faye publicly rectified the situation by announcing, together with Ousmane Sonko, that he would support the future West African currency to replace the CFA franc, before considering creating a Senegalese currency. “ These are reassuring correctionsjudges economist Cherif Sy. They specify today that they will fight for the emergence of the ECOWAS currency… If Senegal leaves the monetary zone, it would be its immediate disappearance, with disastrous effects on neighboring countries. »
It is possible to direct the economy towards the satisfaction of essential internal needs – infrastructure, food, education –, judges the economist, without provoking “ awkwardly » the flight of capital or that of external investors.
Also listen: Presidential election in Senegal: deciphering the victory of Bassirou Diomaye Faye
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