Bolsonaro invites Senegalese president to visit Brazil in 2020

The invitation was handed by Chancellor Ernesto Araújo

Published on 10/12/2019 - 11:41 By José Romildo - Brasília

Amid the increasing growth in African countries, as gauged by GDP indicators worldwide, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro invited the president of Senegal, Macky Sall, to visit Brazil in 2020. The invitation letter was handed to the Senegalese leader by Chancellor Ernesto Araújo, who brought the second stage of his trip to West Africa to an end. The next countries to be visited by the Brazilian foreign minister are Nigeria and Angola, and he is expected to return to Brazil on December 13.

 

chanceler Ernesto Araújo, durante encontro com o presidente do Senegal, Macky Sall
The invitation letter was read by the president of Senegal, Macky Sall. – Ministry of Foreign Relations

In addition to President Sall, the chancellor met with the president of the country’s National Assembly, Moustapha Niasse, and Amadou Ba, minister of Foreign Affairs.

The purpose of the minister’s tour is to implement agreements in the fields of security, defense, trade, and investment. “We’re starting a new moment in Brazil–Africa relations, with a new vision: economic exchange and cooperation in defense founded on a common cultural ground,” the minister said.

Economic solidity

During his meetings with Senegalese authorities, the minister underscored the Brazilian government’s interest in deepening ties with Senegal, which boasts one of the most solid and promising economies in the region. Araújo listed the common challenges posed to both countries in defense and security, the cultural heritage shared by Africa and Brazil, and the potential to boost economic cooperation, especially in agriculture, given the geographical proximity between the two countries.

The minister further stressed the advantages of political closeness, with the formation of a parliamentary friendship group between Brazil and Senegal. In an interview, Ernesto Araújo praised Senegal’s role in the promotion of both regional and global integration, further mentioning Brazil’s interest in increasing its involvement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

In the last five years (2014–28), the Senegalese economy ranked third among the nations with the highest growth among West African economies (6.5%) and sixth in the whole the continent. The surge was chiefly driven by the strides in agriculture and the increased industrial output, boosted mainly by the phosphate industry.

GDP

With a $25.3 billion GDP reported in 2019, Senegal is set to rank fourth on the list with West Africa’s biggest economies, after Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire. The country’s growth stands at seven percent a year. The estimate for 2020–2024, however, is 8.5 percent a year, a figure expected to earn Senegal the status as the country with the highest growth in all of Africa.

Translation: Fabrício Ferreira -  Edition: Lílian Beraldo

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