Senegalese president Sall praises ECOWAS’ monetary integration process
Dakar, Senegal (PANA) – Senegalese president Macky Sall on Tuesday praised the monetary integration process for the 15 member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has seen the creation of the Eco currency, whose launch is scheduled for June 2020.
"This is a happy prospect," he said in his New Year address, reaffirming that with the effective entry into force of the Eco, nothing will change as regards the parity between the CFAF and the Euro.
"Preparing for the future is assuming our responsibilities as Africans, 60 years after independence through a stronger and more united regional economic integration," added President Sall.
He said the past year was particularly marked in Senegal by the presidential election "held in calm and serenity", stressing that the credit goes to the Senegalese people.
President Sall called on his compatriots to prepare for the future, indicating that this will first pass through a possible convergence around the major issues of national interest at the heart of public policies.
"This is all the whole point of the national dialogue I launched after the presidential election," he said, recalling that he established the committee for the national dialogue on 26 December.
"I welcome the commitment of all the country’s forces to this dialogue. With the goodwill of all, I am confident that at the end of the three months of consultations we will reach new consensus to strengthen the democratic experience and economic and social progress of our country."
President Sall announced the continuation of efforts aimed at reducing the expenditure of the government which began with the reduction of the telephone bill since 1 September 2019 with the restriction of the subscription of public servants to mobile telephony operators and the suspension of all outgoing calls.
The next restrictions will concern electricity expenditure, vehicles and administrative accommodation.
"The savings made will help fund our social development programmes," said president Sall, stressing the need to continue the modernization of the foundations of the national economy, particularly agriculture, livestock farming and fishing.
"We have to break the bureaucratic routine for more diligent public action," he said.
-0- PANA AAS/IS/MSA/MA 1Jan2020
