In Dakar last August 17, Chief of the mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Senegal, Ali Mansoor announced that Senegal’s economy should grow beyond 6% in 2016 and 2017.

“We think growth this year and the next will be high. It should exceed 6% and reach about 6.5% in the next two years,” he said.

The emissary said the increase would be effectively recorded only if the Plan for an Emergent Senegal (PSE in French) is successfully pursued. Mr Mansoor was equally pleased with improvement of payment balance, low inflation and most importantly with exports.

Looking at the actual performances, he declared that “Senegal should achieve the 3% convergence norm of the West Africa Economic and Monetary Union, the WAEMU, by 2018”.

However, the head of the IMF delegation emphasized that Senegal must keep this growth level in the coming years if it wants to emerge. He even urged the government to accelerate reforms and redress public expenditures.

Let’s recall that the Plan for an Emergent Senegal, PSE, was launched in 2014 to diversify the economy beyond fishery, agriculture, tourism, and double growth over the next decade.

Alain Okpeitcha