SENEGAL – Senegal, in a bid to promote their horticulture sector, will present over 70,000 tons of products from horticulture, agriculture and handicrafts at the International Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha.
State officials perceive the ongoing 2023 International Exhibition, which began in October 2 in Doha and will end on March 28, as a reliable marketing platform as it is expected to attract more than 3 million visitors.
Speaking to the Qatari media The Peninsula, Mouhamed Habibou Diallo, Ambassador of Senegal to Qatar, underlines that the delegation’s pavilion will open its doors on October 12.
The exhibition will be run by more than 100 companies operating in the public and private sectors under the coordination of the Senegalese Export Promotion Agency (Asepex).
“We will participate in the exhibition from start to finish and we plan to rotate the sectors and industries of Senegal.” explains Mr. Diallo.
“It is an excellent platform to exchange experiences and generate interest in our country among tourists and potential investors,”
The horticulture sector in Senegal that was significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and further exacerbated by the Russian-Ukraine war is yet to recover.
Another government initiative to improve the sector includes the development of the National Program for the Revival of Horticulture (NPRH) by the Department of Horticulture.
NPRH’s objective, according to a document by the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, is to respond to the negative impacts of the pandemic on the actors of the various agricultural value chains.
Horticulture in Senegal is one of the most dynamic segments of agricultural production. According to data from the National Directorate of Horticulture, Senegal harvested approximately 1.6 million tons of fruits and vegetables in 2021/2022 and 106,000 tons of horticultural products were shipped.
While the country exports less than 10% of its harvest, operators are exploring business opportunities on the global market, making the expo a prime growth opportunity for the sector.
It should be noted that Qatar is already attracting the interest of certain African countries such as Kenya, particularly regarding trade in horticultural products.
In 2022, the emirate imported more than $376 million worth of fruits and more than $260 million worth of vegetables, roots, and tubers on the international market, according to data compiled on the Trade Map platform.
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