Senegal’s Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko praised Turkey’s growing investments in his country on Saturday but called for deeper cooperation. Speaking at the Turkey–Senegal Business Forum in Istanbul, Sonko said Turkey is already a major investor yet stressed untapped opportunities remain vast.
He noted Senegal has entered a new chapter since last year’s presidential election, anchored in sovereignty, social justice, and shared prosperity. The government’s vision, he said, seeks to transform the nation through partnerships bridging the state, private sector, and international investors.
Citing Senegal’s stability, strategic location, and natural wealth, Sonko described the country as a gateway to West Africa with a skilled workforce. He encouraged Turkish companies to explore opportunities in power generation, labor-intensive manufacturing, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and healthcare technology.
The prime minister also highlighted prospects in pharmaceuticals, biomedical equipment, and large-scale infrastructure development as priorities for future collaboration. Sonko voiced support for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s target of boosting bilateral trade volume to \$1 billion in the coming years.
He extended an invitation to Turkish businesses to invest in the Diass Special Economic Zone, located near the capital Dakar. Senegal, he added, would be honoured to welcome Turkey’s participation at the Invest in Senegal forum scheduled for October 7–8.