USAID economic growth team forges partnership with Dakar Chamber of Commerce

DAKAR, February 27, 2007 – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Economic Growth Program in Senegal, today joined forces with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Dakar to promote public-private partnerships in a bid to boost investment and job creation.

According to the agreement signed in Dakar, USAID’s economic growth program and the Chamber of Commerce will work together to identify and support new partnerships that will help promote accelerated economic growth in the West African country.

The agreement establishes a public-private partnership coordination center in the offices of USAID's Economic Growth Program in Dakar. The facility will provide information, training, and support to promote private sector investment in areas such as infrastructure development and public services.

Chamber of Commerce President Mamadou Lamine Niang noted that the coordination center would play a key role in “making companies perform better,” specifically, through support to business leaders interested in forming public-private partnerships.