DP World chief meets Senegal president

dubai — DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem has met with Senegalese President Macky Sall as part of a tour of West and North Africa to confirm development of infrastructure projects in the country.

The discussions, attended by Prime Minister Mohammed Dionne, confirmed the plan for Port Du Futur with construction to start before the end of 2018, together with an agreement on land allocation for the associated freezone.

DP World will also provide a master plan for redevelopment of the old port of Dakar. Other topics included customs and logistics in the country.

Port de Futur will be a multipurpose port with an economic zone and logistics zone adjacent to new Blaise Diagne International Airport. It allows for the creation of cargo and free movement of goods to support the country’s economic diversification, boosting non-resource exports. It is expected to be one of the most advanced free zones in Africa.

The visit was part of bin Sulayem’s annual Africa tour calling at existing DP World operations while meeting other heads of state and business leaders to explore trade links. He underlined the company’s commitment to supporting the economic growth of Senegal and developing Dakar into a major logistics hub and gateway.

Earlier, DP World published an economic impact study on the role of its Dakar Container Terminal, noting that 31,000 Senegalese nationals have been supported by the company’s activities with a 63 per cent increase in Dakar’s imports and exports between 2010 and 2015 as a result of infrastructure investments.

— business@khaleejtimes.com