Inauguration of the EBRD's First Office in Senegal

The Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning, Mr. Cheikh DIBA, Governor of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for Senegal, chaired the ceremony inaugurating the institution's first office in Dakar on Thursday, 9 July 2026, alongside the President of the EBRD, Ms. Odile Renaud-Basso.

One year after Senegal's official accession to the Bank, the opening of this office marks the transition from institutional commitment to an operational presence and reflects the EBRD's determination to structure its support for the development of the Senegalese economy effectively.

The Dakar office will be headed by Mr. Khalil Dinguizli, EBRD Country Director for Senegal.

On the sidelines of the inauguration, the first two investment agreements, targeting the banking and telecommunications sectors, were signed between the Bank and private operators in the market.

Welcoming this concrete start, the Minister noted the dynamism of the EBRD's engagement, in line with its mission of supporting the private sector. He placed this cooperation within a perspective of diversifying interventions, citing logistics, energy, and construction and public works among the sectors with strong potential. He also recalled the importance of environmental issues and of diversifying the country's energy sources.

In her address, the President of the EBRD, Ms. Odile Renaud-Basso, highlighted Senegal's strengths and underscored the convergence between national orientations and the institution's strategic priorities: "I am thinking in particular of Vision Senegal 2050, which resonates strongly with our own strategic priorities."

Favouring a proximity-based approach, she stressed that the partnership is built on the ground, as close as possible to the needs of businesses and financial institutions. The EBRD thus intends to support the private sector—a driver of growth and job creation—while contributing to the implementation of Senegal's development priorities.