By Ayomide Otitoju
The Director General of APIX, Bakary Séga Bathily, has said that energy and youth remain the most powerful drivers of Senegal’s development, as the country prepares to host the Forum Invest in Senegal (Fii Senegal 2025) on October 7–8 at the CICAD in Diamniadio.
Bathily emphasized Senegal’s dual ambition: to accelerate its energy transition while transforming its youthful population into a catalyst for growth. “Fii Senegal 2025 will demonstrate how these projects translate into opportunities that empower youth, accelerate our energy transition, and position Senegal as a major global investment hub,” he said.
The forum comes just weeks after Dakar unveiled a $300 million solar-for-agriculture program—the largest rural electrification investment in the country’s history. Senegal aims to achieve universal electricity access and increase the share of renewables to 40% by 2030. Currently, 84% of the population has access to electricity, but rural areas remain underserved.
A high-level session at the forum will bring together senior officials including Khadim Bamba Diagne, Permanent Secretary of COS-PETROGAZ; Birame Souleye Diop, Minister of Energy, Petroleum and Mines; Biro Condé of the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC); Abdoulaye Dia of the West African Power Pool (WAPP); and Pierre Goudiaby Atepa of CIS. They are expected to examine opportunities across solar, wind, oil, and gas as Senegal works to boost production capacity by 70% under the Just Energy Transition Partnership.
The country has already taken major steps toward diversification, including the 2024 installation of Africa’s first floating regasification and power generation unit. But beyond energy infrastructure, officials stress that human capital is central to Senegal’s transformation. With 75% of the population under 35, the government is banking on youth dynamism, skills, and creativity to meet labor demand and strengthen competitiveness.
Held under the theme “Connecting Opportunities, Building the Future,” Fii Senegal 2025 is expected to showcase how energy and human capital can be harnessed to advance inclusive, sustainable growth and attract global investment.
