Chambers of commerce and francophone regions meet in Dakar

On 12 December, the High-Level Institutional Economic Meeting was held in Dakar, Senegal, organised by the Permanent Conference of African and Francophone Consular Chambers (CPCCAF) and the International Association of Francophone Regions (AIRF). In May 2014, the two organizations had signed an agreement to implement development programmes in French-speaking territories, mainly in the south, through private activities. In compliance with the agreement, the Dakar meeting, under the title "Decentralised cooperation and economic development", allowed the meeting and the creation of alliances between international businessmen and regional presidents. 

The meeting was attended by the president and vice-president of ORU Fogar, Abdessamad Sekkal, president of the Rabat-Salé-Kenitra Regional Council, and Laurent Wauquiez, president of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region. 

At the opening, President Sekkal argued that decentralised cooperation should be based on a strong territorial approach and the establishment of links based on mutual benefit, where the economic dimension plays a key role. For the president of ORU Fogar, decentralized cooperation must involve projects in which there is a convergence of interests, in the areas of energy efficiency, sustainable management, territorial marketing or the training of young people and women with entrepreneurial spirit. Abdessamad Sekkal placed great emphasis on the need for job creation.

President Sekkal chaired the Working Group on Economic Development, which presented the lines of work for the years 2019-2020. Thus, in order to strengthen the economic attractiveness of the regions, territorial marketing plans were established. It was also possible to create a platform for the exchange of economic experiences, with the presence of regions, companies and donors. 

The Assembly of the International Association of Francophone Regions (AIRF) was also held in Dakar on the 13th of December. During the session, Laurent Wauquiez, President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, was re-elected President of the Association. Abdelkebir Berkia, Vice-President of the Council of the Rabat-Salé-Kenitra Region, was also ratified as Secretary General of the AIRF.

These events enabled President Sekkal to meet Ousmane Tanor Dieng, President of the Haut Conseil des Collectivités Territoriales du Sénégal. The meeting also facilitated the meeting between President Sekkal and Laurent Wauquiez. The latter was determined by the desire of the Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes to join ORU Fogar.