Dakar, March 1 (APS) – Team Europe (Team Europe) will invest around 200 billion CFA francs (more than 320 million euros) ”in support of the modernization of Dakar’s public transport network” , indicates a press release received by the APS.
This investment, which is part of the Global Gateway project, ”will help Senegal to meet environmental challenges by providing Senegalese with cleaner, safer and more affordable public transport”, underlines the text.
“The public transport network project in Dakar contributes to the implementation of Senegal’s national development plan for the period 2019-2023 and its first strategic component for the structural transformation of the economy. The transport sector has a key role to play in accelerating the country’s economic and social development. And, this project represents a major step forward that takes into account our sustainable development objectives,” explained Oulimata Sarr, Minister of Economy, Planning and Cooperation of Senegal.
The 320.4 million Euros representing the amount of financing is distributed as follows: more than 174 billion CFA francs, or 266.9 million euros in loans and more than 34 billion CFA francs, or 53.5 million euros in subsidies.
According to Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, “this project is another tangible testimony of the Global Gateway strategy in action”. She believes it will “directly benefit the people of Dakar, as it will improve the quality of affordable public transport, reduce air pollution and make the city more liveable”. In addition, it will “contribute to Senegal’s green transition and environmental and climate protection,” she said.
This financial support will mainly be used to restructure the Dakar bus network. It concerns 14 priority lines and includes the acquisition of 380 buses, the construction of two depots, the installation of a ticket office and network management and control systems, as well as the construction of 30 km of roads. The investment will also provide institutional support to CETUD, Dakar’s public transport authority.
The project was announced on the occasion of the first EIB Forum in Luxembourg by Oulimata Sarr, Minister of Economy, Planning and Cooperation of Senegal, Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President of the EIB, Koen Doens, Managing Director of the European Commission’s International Partnerships Department, Papa Amadou Sarr, Executive Director at AFD, André Ahlert, Director of Strategy and Financial Instruments at KfW, and Markus Berndt, Acting Executive Director of EIB World.
The Global Gateway project is led by the European Investment Bank, with the support of the European Commission, the French Development Agency (AFD) and KfW, Development Bank on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Cooperation economy and development.
SDS/ASG
