• Mashatile visits Dakar for Forum Invest in Senegal 2025

• Holds bilateral talks with PM Sonko to boost trade ties

• South Africa to support Senegal’s industrialization and job growth

South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile is scheduled to begin a working visit to Dakar, Senegal, on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, according to a statement released by the South African government on Friday, Oct. 3.

During his stay, Mashatile will participate in the Forum Invest in Senegal 2025, an economic event focused on promoting trade and investment. The forum aims to strengthen ties among the business communities of Senegal, the rest of Africa, and the world.

The visit also includes bilateral talks with Senegalese authorities, notably Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, with the goal of strengthening political and economic relations.

The statement said this would "include deepening trade and investment relations with Senegal to create employment opportunities for citizens of both countries, transform economies through the beneficiation of the natural resources, manufacturing, industrialisation, value addition as well as increasing productivity and ensuring the competitiveness of both countries’ economies."

Relations between Senegal and South Africa began with the opening of representative offices in November 1993, followed by the formal establishment of diplomatic relations on May 6, 1994. The relationship was further solidified with the creation of the Joint Bilateral Cooperation Commission in December 2021, which currently oversees fifteen agreements across various sectors.

Economically, according to the International Trade Centre (ITC), trade between the two countries in 2024 stood at $174.3 million in South African exports versus $523,000 in Senegalese exports.

Mashatile's visit comes as Senegal seeks to revive its industrialization push. South Africa, with its more developed manufacturing sector and recognized experience in mining and agro-processing, is positioned to provide technical support to aid this initiative.

Ingrid Haffiny