Following their visit to Mauritania, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani and Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi held institutional meetings in Dakar with the President of the Republic of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye. The two Ministers also attended a working dinner with the Minister for African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, Cheikh Niang, which was joined by representatives of leading Italian companies as well as by Simest and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA).
Minister Tajani expressed his appreciation for the excellent bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed that Senegal is among Italy’s priority partners for development cooperation and a key ally on the African continent in addressing irregular migration and combating terrorism.
He underscored that the Mattei Plan for Africa offers an important framework for jointly designing and implementing large-scale projects with mutual benefits, particularly in the fields of agri-industry and the digitalisation of public services.
From an economic perspective, Dakar is a strategic trading partner and represents the fourth-largest market for Italian exports in the region. Between January and July 2025, bilateral trade increased by 109.5% compared with the same period in 2024, driven by growth in both exports (+13.5%) and imports (+221%). Minister Tajani expressed Italy’s intention to further deepen economic relations, as demonstrated by today’s inauguration of the ITA and Simest offices in Dakar.
He highlighted Italy’s comprehensive and forward-looking strategy towards Africa — far removed from any neo-colonial approach — based on long-term cooperation and shared prosperity. Italy aims to bring Italian companies and their expertise to Senegal, promote joint ventures, strengthen trade flows and contribute to the continent’s sustainable development in a win–win perspective.
The Minister also expressed appreciation for the valuable contribution of the Senegalese diaspora to Italy’s economy.
Finally, during the meeting with President Faye, the discussions also covered major international issues and a number of African crises, including the situations in Sudan and Mali, both affected by growing instability.
