Senegal: OIC summit boost

President Abdoulaye Wade will be hoping this week's Organisation of the Islamic Conference summit runs smoothly: he has invested significant capital ensuring that it does.

Some 5,000 delegates from 60 countries will be in the country during the week, with as many as 30 heads of state -- including Saudi King Abdallah, and Kuwait's Emir Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah -- in attendance for the summit on Thursday and Friday.  While some of the guests will reportedly be accommodated in moored ships, the president is confident that the country will be ready.

Wade's son Karim has been put in charge of a multimillion dollar project to enhance Senegal's hospitality infrastructure and security capacity ahead of the summit, tying into multibillion dollar enhancements in rail, road, air and port infrastructure as part of a general overhaul of Senegal's business environment.  A new port and commercial zone a few kilometres outside of Dakar has attracted significant investment, much of it from Gulf countries awash in capital amid record-high oil prices. 

Wade's strategy reflects a general desire to see Senegal's economy continue to grow strongly, and the construction-heavy agenda will contribute to expected GDP growth of 4-5% this year, a strong showing for a country which must import its oil.  The infrastructure campaign also tied in strongly to Wade's re-election campaign last year, and contributed to his party's dominance in the earlier legislative polls.