UAE-based Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) said it has allocated Dh53 million ($15 million) towards funding of a 336-km-long National Road No 2 (Ndioum – Ourossogui – Bakel) project in Senegal.

The National Road No. 2 development runs along the valley of the Senegal River, and will directly impact 15 percent of the total Senegalese population - 2.15 million individuals across three administrative regions including Saint-Louis, Matam and Tambacounda, it stated.

Senegalese President Macky Sall attended the foundation stone laying ceremony along with Mansour Elimane Kane, the Senegalese Minister of Infrastructure, Land Transport and Opening up, Ali Al Marzouqi, Charge d'affaires at the UAE embassy in Senegal, and several high-ranking officials.

Speaking at the ceremony, ADFD officials said one of its goals was to support governments across the globe in achieving their desired development objectives.

This road will play a vital role in alleviating living standards for communities through enabling infrastructure that significantly eases movement of goods and people, they stated.

Lauding the Senegalese government’s national strategy - Strategie Nationale de Developpement Economique et Social, Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, the director general of ADFD, said: "The government of Senegal’s strategy articulates recovery, growth, long- term development and infrastructure investments as core priorities."

According to him, the 50-km-long road section will directly benefit 600,000 residents.

"Furthermore, the overall project reinforces the Senegalese national strategy and will kick-start socio-economic growth in the country, specifically improving transportation infrastructure, reducing travel time and helping curb high vehicle repair costs as a direct fall-out of accidents on ill-constructed roads," he stated.

Minister Kane emphasised that the National Road No.2 project is in line with the Senegalese government’s strategy to enhance, boost and increase access to public services – notably through proper transport infrastructure.

Since 1976, ADFD has allocated concessionary loans worth Dh193 million to sustainable development projects in Senegal across key sectors – most significantly, health, transportation, agriculture and water.-TradeArabia News Service