Senegal to earn $177m annually through digitization
After making good progress on
financial inclusion (https://GlobalFIndex.WorldBank.org/), Senegal has turned
its attention to digitizing payments in order to speed up its growth and
inclusive development.
By digitizing 50% of all national
payments, Senegal’s economic growth would increase by over FCFA 104 billion
(over USD 177 million) per year. The finding comes from a new report
(http://bit.ly/2PYwKMV) presented by the Prime Minister to the President of the
Republic and adopted by the Council of Ministers.
Under the patronage of President
Macky Sall, the study was led by the Minister of Finance, the Minister of
Solidary Economy and the Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister on behalf of
the government. The report benefited from the close partnership with the United
Nations’ Better Than Cash Alliance (https://www.BetterThanCash.org/), as well
as the MM4P (http://www.UNCDF.org/mm4p/home) program of the United Nations
Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). The Regional Central Bank (BCEAO) and the
private sector have contributed significantly.
Mahammed Dionne, Prime Minister
of Senegal, said, “Better collaboration between public and private sectors on
digitizing payments would make it possible to mobilize more resources, increase
business productivity, improve financial inclusion and add FCFA 104 billion per
year to our country’s GDP. The Head of State’s vision for an inclusive Senegal
will thus become a reality. These issues are all common to the West African
Economic and Monetary Union’s member countries.”
Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the
Netherlands, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance
for Development (UNSGSA), said: “Senegal has made exceptional progress in
financial inclusion over recent years. I congratulate the government on its
work on digitizing payments. This will help to improve the efficiency and
transparency of payments and also the financial and economic inclusion of
individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises. The study launched today
offers interesting options for action, some of which are already being implemented.
By continuing to digitize their payments to individuals, the government and
businesses will make savings and help to promote development.”
Dr. Ruth Goodwin-Groen, Managing
Director of the Better Than Cash Alliance, said: “We congratulate Senegal for
having accelerated its shift to digital payments, setting an example for the
region. The government has digitized 100% of its payments to businesses and
authorities. If social programs and the digitization of revenue were added, up
to 75% of costs could be saved. Digitizing merchant payments could also have a
significant impact on the country’s inclusive growth. The Better Than Cash
Alliance stands ready to support the government with these ambitious projects.”
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