Senegal Economy, GDP, Budget, Industry and Agriculture

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Senegal Economy


View the information below regarding the economy of Senegal. The summary and statistics contains gdp, industry, agriculture and more for Senegal. If you need other information please visit the Senegal Country Page.

  • Senegal Government
  • Senegal People
  • Senegal Geography
  • Senegal History

    Economy
    GDP (2000): $ 4.1 billion.
    Real annual growth rate: 5%.
    Per capita GDP (2000): $453.
    Natural resources: Fish, peanuts, phosphate, iron ore, gold, titanium.
    Primary sector: 18.5% of GDP, of which agriculture represents 9.5% of GDP: Products--peanuts, millet, sorghum, manioc, rice, cotton.
    Secondary sector: 20.7% of GDP, of which industry and mining represent 14% of GDP. Types--fishing; agricultural product processing; light manufacturing; mining including energy, oil mining, and construction.
    Tertiary sector: 60.9% of GDP of which services represent 39.7% of GDP and trade 21.2% of GDP. Trade (2000): Exports--$908.1 million (fish products, peanut products, phosphate products). Major markets--France, other European Union, West African CFA zone. Imports--$1.2 billion (food, consumer goods, petroleum, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum products, computer equipment). Major suppliers--France, Nigeria, Cameroon, United States.
    Exchange rate: Fixed to French franc (FF)--African Financial Community (CFA) franc 100=1 FF.
    Economic aid received (2000): $361 million from all sources, $24.7 million from the U.S.

    Economy of Senegal
    The former capital of French West Africa, Senegal is a semi-arid country located on the westernmost point of Africa. Predominantly rural and with limited natural resources, the country earns foreign exchange from fish, phosphates, peanuts, tourism, and services. Its economy is highly vulnerable to variations in rainfall and changes in world commodity prices. Senegal depends heavily on foreign assistance, which in 2000 represented about 32% of overall government spending--including both current expenditures and capital investments--or CFA 270.8 billion (U.S.$361.0 million).

    Since the January 1994 CFA franc devaluation, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and other multilateral and bilateral creditors have been supporting the Government of Senegal’s structural and sectoral adjustment programs. The broad objectives of the program have been to facilitate growth and development by reducing the role of government in the economy, improving public sector management, enhancing incentives for the private sector, and reducing poverty.

    With an external debt of $ 2,495 million, and with its economic reform program on track, Senegal qualified for the multilateral debt relief initiative for heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC). Progress on structural reforms is on track, but the pace of reforms remains slow, as delays occur in implementing a number of measures on the privatization program, good governance issues, and the promotion of private sector activity. However, macroeconomic indicators show that Senegal turned in a respectable performance in meeting IMF targets in 2000: annual GDP growth increased to 5.7%, compared to 5.1% in 1999. Inflation was reported to be 0.7% compared to 0.8% in 1999, and the current account deficit (excluding transfers) was held at less than 6% of GDP.

    The fishing sector has replaced the groundnut sector as Senegal's export leader. Its export earnings reached $239 million in 2000. The industrial fishing operations struggle with high costs, and Senegalese tuna is rapidly losing the French market to more efficient Asian competitors.

    Phosphate production, the second major foreign exchange earner, has been steady at about $95 million. Exports of peanut products reached $79 million in 2000 and represented 11% of total export earnings. Receipts from tourism, the fourth major foreign exchange earner, have picked up since the January 1994 devaluation. In 2000, some 500,000 tourists visited Senegal, earning the country $120 million.

    Senegal’s new Agency for the Promotion of Investment (APIX) plays a pivotal role in the government’s foreign investment program. Its objective is to increase the investment rate from its current level of 20.6% to 30%. Currently, there are no restrictions on the transfer or repatriation of capital and income earned, or investment financed with convertible foreign exchange. Direct U.S. investment in Senegal remains about $38 million, mainly in petroleum marketing, pharmaceuticals manufacturing, chemicals, and banking. Economic assistance, about $350 million a year, comes largely from France, the IMF, the World Bank, and the United States. Canada, Italy, Japan, and Germany also provide assistance.

    Senegal has well-developed though costly port facilities, a major international airport serving 23 international airlines, and direct and expanding telecommunications links with major world centers.

    source: http://www.state.gov

  • Senegal Government
  • Senegal People
  • Senegal Geography
  • Senegal History