The development of infrastructure is thus a key factor of success for the investment promotion strategy in Senegal.
Since the option exercised over the past decades to finance public infrastructure through "credit and aid" has not been capable of securing the capital required to overcome the infrastructure deficiency, APIX has been entrusted with the mission of promoting the involvement of the national and international private sector in the funding, development and operation of infrastructure, within the framework of the paradigm shift proposed by the President of the Republic and relative to development funding, in general, and infrastructure in particular.
To that effect, APIX would appeal to the international market for project funding and the implementation of successful strategies between the State and private investors by developing "Public/Private Partnership (PPP) and awarding "Build, Operate and Transfer" (BOT) contracts.
The objectives of the "Major Projects" policy as defined, are as follows:

• Develop national infrastructure;
• Improve the investment rate ;
• Improve the populations living standard;
• Reduce indebtedness;
• Improve infrastructure management
• Improve the competitiveness of local firms through the transfer of technology which they can benefit from through
• Subcontracting and services rendered;

Achieving these objectives will help improve Senegal's competitiveness and attractiveness.

Mission of the Major Projects Department

Under the authority of the Director General of APIX, the Major Projects Department ensures the development (conception, planning and realisation) of projects which the President of the Republic has placed under the contracting authority of APIX within the framework of his "Major Projects" policy.

MAIN OBJECTIVES :

• to contribute in improving town planning by relieving the congestion in Dakar and facilitating the emergence of a second economic centre outside Dakar ;
• to turn Dakar into a hub and a preferential technical transit point in West Africa for air traffic to and from Europe, North and South America.

DESCRIPTION :

Build a new international airport to replace the existing Leopold Sedar Senghor International Airport of Dakar-Yoff to respond to projected traffic trends by 2025 while guaranteeing possibilities of extension :

• build 1800 ha and 2000 ha area as opposed to the present 800 ha area ;
• build two 4 000 m X 300 m runways for the current and projected big carriers ;
• reach an initial 3 million passenger traffic capacity per annum extensible per module;
• reach 80,000 air traffic movements per annum.
• Services provided : passenger traffic and freight, commercial services, aircraft maintenance workshop, fresh produce storage and preservation complex ;
• Financing scheme : Public/Private Partnership for its funding and operation under a ''Build, Operate, Transfer'' (BOT) agreement.
• Estimated Cost : 200 Billion CFA F , i.e. 276 million US$

PROGRESS :

· Ten (10) potential sites have been identified and classified based on the following criteria :

• operational;
• social ;
• environmental ;
• infrastructural ;
• economical ;

· topographic surveys, geo-technical studies and brief draft overall building plans of the best 2 sites ;

· DIASS has been chosen as the site for the new airport;

· technical, economic and financial optimisation studies (being finalised);

· Chosen site has been legally secured.

(Public Benefit Decree and Decree on the declassification of the Ndiass forest have been passed)

* Works to secure the site physically (in progress).

· Next step :

Negotiations are in progress with strategic partner for the realisation of the project within the framework of a BOT contract.

TOLL MOTORWAY

MAIN OBJECTIVE :

Relieve traffic congestion in Dakar by developing a second road network that will guarantee predictable and reliable timing of movements linking :

• the airport to the International Business Centre ;
• Dakar to the rest of the country.

DESCRIPTION :
Construction of a toll motorway between Dakar and Thies (70 Km) and link these two major cities to the new international airport.

Estimated Cost : 60 Billion CFA F, i.e. 80 million US$

PROGRESS :

• Analysis of studies that have already been carried out;
• Determining and validating the layout ;
• Demarcation of the area, i.e. boundary marking is in progress;
• Identifying, at international level, the best motorway investors and managers;
• initiate traffic counting study on Dakar-Thies road;
• evaluation of social attendant measures (compensation and rehousing of populations to be displace) in progress;
• start a study on the acceptability of a toll system;
• pre-feasibility study completed.

· Next step :

• Legally secure the land ;
• Finalise feasibility studies;
• Prepare tender documents for the selection of a concessionary company .
  

''STANDARD GAUGE'' RAILWAY SYSTEM
AND REINFORCEMENT OF THE SMALL BLUE TRAIN

PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE :

Progressively convert the current Senegalese metric gauge (1.01m) railway into a standard gauge system (1.435 m).

Specific objectives :

• Open up the country (passenger and goods traffic);
• Stimulate the exploitation of mineral resources in the Eastern region of Senegal notably the phosphates of Matam and the Iron ore of Faleme ;
• ·Satisfy the needs for an efficient railway service between Dakar and its suburbs.

DESCRIPTION :

Construction of new standard gauge tracks

PROGRESS :

Pre-feasibility study completed in late April 2001 within the framework of technical co-operation with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

N.B :

This project document was finalised two months after the meeting in September 2000, between His Excellency General PERVEZ MUSHARAF, Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Mr . Abdoulaye WADE, President of the Republic of Senegal, on the sidelines of the " Millennium " Summit

The final agreement was signed during the visit of the President of the Republic of Senegal to Pakistan in March 2001.

In addition to the standard gauge railway system, the agreement signed with Pakistan makes provision for :

an important rehabilitation and reinforcement component of the service between Dakar and its suburbs (Small Blue Train) with the supply of 20 carriages to the SNCS by September ;
supplying spare parts to the SNCS ;
training SNCS personnel.

Next step : Launch feasibility studies (Q1- 2002).

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CENTRE

MAIN OBJECTIVE :

The International Business Centre will offer reception facilities, infrastructure and services required to set up the headquarters of major multinationals and other companies wishing to service the continent from Dakar ;

Specific objectives :

To turn Dakar into a major financial and business centre by providing the business centre with special legislation (simplified formalities, tax exemption and capital security) ;

To develop a Stock Exchange at the international business centre.

DESCRIPTION :

Build a real estate complex for offices and houses on the site of the existing airport (800 hectares).

PROGRESS :

Identifying, at international level, the biggest property investors and best property developers.

· Next step :

• Define the project (technical and architectural definition of the project, analysis of its financial profitability) ;
• Implementation action plan ;
• Marketing Plan.

ORE TANKER PORT OF BARGNY

MAIN OBJECTIVES:

This project seeks to develop a port for the existing heavy ore tanker traffic (phosphates of Thies and Taïba) or projected traffic (phosphates of Matam, sulfur, iron ore or gold of Eastern Senegal…) and petroleum products (SAR, Port Authority Petroleum Wharf) located outside the piers of the Port of Dakar.

Specific objectives :

• To transfer out of the Port of Dakar, which is in the city centre, the environmental problems associated with the operation of this type of traffic and to reduce security problems related to the exploitation of petroleum products within the Port of Dakar premise.
• To ease congestion problems in Dakar caused by the length and frequency of trains or vehicles carrying traffic to and from the Port of Dakar;
• · Relieve storage and operations facilities at the Port of Dakar in order to extend the storage and goods handling zones (container terminals...)

DESCRIPTION :

Build an ore tanker port on a 4400 m offshore pier, equipped with :

• · road and railway services ;
• · goods storage and handling facilities ;
• · loading station for 60 000 tdw ships with a 15 m draught ;
• · loading station for 170 000 tdw ships with a 21 m draught.
  

PROGRESS:

Analysis of feasibility studies that have already been conducted ;

Identifying, at international level, the biggest port investors and the best port managers.

· Next step :
Update feasibility studies;

Prepare tender documents for awarding the project contract.

Extension and Modernisation of the Port of Dakar
''PORT OF THE FUTURE''

MAIN OBJECTIVES :

Upgrade to international standard the reception infrastructures (dock length, draught, storage area...) costs and quality of services (repairs, supplies, handling...) of the Port of Dakar.

Develop the Port of Dakar into a Port fully equipped with basic infrastructure (land, access and protection installations) which will be rented to private operators responsible for operating and modernising the port infrastructures under long-term concession contracts, while retaining its entire regulatory functions (price and quality regulation, with guaranteed free competition).

Specific Objectives :

Develop a Free Port to promote the establishment, in the port area, of firms exporting value added products and improve the export traffic which represents only 36% of today's total traffic.

Turn Dakar into a major Fragmentation and Transhipment Port on the West Coast.

DESCRIPTION :

Some infrastructure to be built

There is also need to :

· have in place an information system and mechanisms that will facilitate the rational use of infrastructure with a view to improving the Port's competitiveness. ;
· rehabilitate and renovate the handling equipment (crane etc...).

PROGRESS :

Analysis of the existing structures and the development projects of the Port of Dakar ;

Identification of the biggest port investors and best port managers in the international arena.

· Next step :

Conduct a study to analyse reforms to be undertaken to promote private sector involvement and prepare tender documents for the awarding of contracts for the port infrastructure development project ;

Preparing legal documents for the implementation of the project contract award.

Stabilisation of the Coasts and Cliffs of Dakar

MAIN OBJECTIVES :

Fight against coastal erosion

Improve the security of vehicles, houses and pedestrians along the coastal roads of Dakar.

DESCRIPTION :

Carry out reinforcement works to curb coastal erosion and promote the conception of projects for the development of the Dakar coastal roads.

PROGRESS :

Qualitative inspection and precise diagnosis of the level of gravity reached ;

Finalised analysis on the causes of erosion :

• geological causes
• hydro-oceanographical causes
• hydro-meteorological causes
• geo-technical causes
• environmental causes

Proposals for solutions to stop or reduce coastal erosion (estimated cost 8 billion CFA , i.e. 11 million US$) ;

Identification of funding sources and intervention planning in progress.

Next Step :

Launching works on the most critical zones (as soon as funding is available).