ส.อ.ท. เปิดตลาดไทย–เซเนกัล ดัน 3 อุตสาหกรรมศักยภาพ สู่แอฟริกาตะวันตกFTI Launches Thai–Senegal Market to Promote Three Potential Industries in West Africa

The FTI is moving forward to expand trade and investment opportunities between Thailand and Senegal, considering Senegal as a key market connectivity point in West Africa, while promoting three of Thailand's potential industries: food, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and agricultural machinery to new markets.

On September 17, 2026, Dr. Nilsuwan Lilasathien, Vice President of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), along with Ms. Suwapee Sirikulwatana, Deputy Secretary-General of the FTI, Committee Member and Secretary of the International Affairs Division, Ms. Anuttha Chao-visith, Deputy Secretary-General of the FTI, Committee Member and Secretary of the Economic and Academic Affairs Division, Mr. Songphol Pholsena, Secretary-General of the Thai-South Africa Business Council, and Mr. Phansaeng Kamlangchai, Committee Member of the Food and Beverage Industry Group, welcomed Ms. Nipa Nirunanu, Ambassador to Dakar, Republic of Senegal, to discuss ways to promote trade and investment between Thailand and Senegal at the Mongkolsuthee Room, FTI.

During the discussion, both parties exchanged information regarding economic conditions, trade opportunities, and the industrial potential of both Thailand and Senegal, agreeing that Senegal is an important country in the West African region due to its strategic location, which can connect trade and transportation between Europe and West Africa, particularly the deep-water port in Dakar, which plays a crucial role in cargo transportation and has the potential to develop as a trading hub for countries in the region.

Furthermore, Senegal possesses potential in energy through domestic oil and natural gas production, which is another factor supporting economic opportunities and investment in the future.

At the same time, the market structure and industrial sector in Senegal also have opportunities for development and diversification of products and services, thus providing opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs to expand into markets both in Senegal and neighboring countries in the West African region, particularly in the food industry, which has potential in rice products as Senegal has a domestic consumption requirement of over 1 million tons of rice per year, as well as seafood and processed foods, areas in which Thai entrepreneurs have strengths and experience in production and export.

Additionally, there are opportunities in the pharmaceuticals and medical devices industries, particularly products related to the prevention and treatment of malaria, as well as surgical instruments and medical equipment, including agricultural machinery, especially machinery utilizing Industry 2.0 technology, which is still in demand in Senegal's industrial sector, creating opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs to present machines and solutions that meet market needs.

Both the Ambassador and the FTI representatives agreed that Senegal is a market with potential for Thai entrepreneurs and can serve as a base for expanding economic cooperation to other countries in the West African region, thus promoting concrete cooperation between the private sectors of both countries through seminars and activities for exchanging information on economic and industrial matters, creating opportunities for business meetings and negotiations, as well as organizing training and development programs for personnel in the industry to enhance understanding and connect networks between entrepreneurs of both countries in the future.