Press release
U.S. Congressional Delegation visits Senegal to review assistance programs
and Millennium Challenge Account Compact proposal
DAKAR, January 4, 2006 -- A U.S. Congressional delegation
led by Representative Jim Kolbe (R-Arizona) is in Senegal this week to meet with
His Excellency President Abdoulaye Wade, review U.S. Government assistance programs
that promote stability, democracy and economic prosperity,  and
learn about Senegal's Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Compact proposal, notably
the Diamniadio Platform.
First sworn into Congress in 1985, Rep. Kolbe is serving his eleventh term
in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves as Chairman of the House Subcommittee
on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs, which funds most
U.S. foreign aid programs, including the U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID) and the Peace Corps.
The delegation will visit sites related to the Diamniadio Platform as well
as the West Africa Trade Hub, (WATH/Dakar), which seeks to promote improvements
in Africa’s trade capacity, boost international exports and help businesses
take advantage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
In addition, the delegation will meet with representatives of the Ministries
of Finance, Transportation, and Agriculture as well as the Investment Promotion
Agency (APIX) and the Millennium Platform Agency (AMPMD).
 Senegal’s
MCA Compact proposal contemplates the construction of a large-scale industrial,
commercial, and residential development 40 kilometers east of Dakar known as the
Diamniadio Platform. The project aims to promote a more fertile environment for
local and foreign investment and create a significant number of new jobs in Senegal.
On October 28, U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Vice President for
Country Programs John Hewko and Senegalese Senior Minister for Economy and Finance
Abdoulaye Diop signed the Implementation Agreement to the Grant Agreement previously
signed in July 2005 committing up to $6.5 million to assist Senegal in the development
of its proposal.
In July 2005, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) approved a grant of
up to $6.5 million to assist Senegal in the development of its Compact—the
largest amount of financing to date that MCC has committed to any country for
Compact development.
USAID is the lead agency for the U.S. Government providing economic development
and humanitarian assistance to people around the world. As an active partner of
the Government and people of Senegal, USAID listens to local concerns and priorities,
and then responds with joint activities to help reduce poverty, promote democracy
and economic growth, recover from disasters, and prevent conflicts. Since 1961,
USAID has invested over $1 billion in a wide range of projects to tackle constraints
to national development in Senegal.
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