Italy and Senegal have taken a major step towards strengthening economic cooperation with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), Simest, and Senegal’s National Agency for the Promotion of Investments and Major Projects (APIX).
The agreement, concluded during the Italy–Senegal Business Forum held in Dakar, aims to boost collaboration between businesses from both countries and promote joint investments in strategic sectors.
The forum was organised by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), in partnership with Confindustria Assafrica & Mediterraneo.
Signed by CDP’s Head of International Market Development Laurent Franciosi, Simest CEO Queen Corradini d’Arienzo, and APIX Director-General Bakary Séga Bathily, the accord sets out a framework for closer cooperation across key industries including infrastructure, energy and the green transition, agribusiness, and mechanical engineering.
The partnership also envisions joint activities such as business missions, workshops, and B2B meetings, supported by CDP’s Business Matching platform to facilitate connections between Italian and Senegalese enterprises. A particular focus will be placed on developing financial solutions to enhance trade relations and support bilateral investment.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani, who led the forum, underscored the importance of fostering sustainable partnerships between Europe and Africa.
According to CDP, the MoU forms part of Italy’s broader Export Plan, designed to strengthen international collaboration and deliver shared economic benefits. For Senegal, it aligns with national efforts to attract investment, build industrial capacity, and accelerate sustainable growth.
The agreement represents a concrete step towards a more dynamic Euro-African economic relationship, one built on innovation, shared opportunity, and long-term development.