APIX: gateway for foreign investors in Senegal
The Investment Promotion and Major Works Agency (APIX-SA) created in 2000 is the Senegalese public body charged with supporting national and foreign investors. Located at Fahd Building, Avenue Léopold Sédar Senghor in Dakar.
Three main missions:
- Business creation one-stop shop (BCE) — RCCM, NINEA formalities in 48h-72h
- Investment Code status grant — tax and customs benefits
- Special economic zones management — including the Diamniadio SEZ (DISEZ)
In 2026, Senegal ranks 13th in Africa for ease of doing business (Doing Business 2024 — last available edition). Recent reforms accelerate attractiveness: revised Investment Code (law 2017-04 of January 24, 2017), 2016 Mining Code, 2019 Petroleum Code.
H2: The Investment Code status — who can benefit
The Investment Code (law 2004-06 amended by law 2017-04) grants special benefits to projects meeting 3 cumulative criteria:
Criterion 1 — Eligible sectors
Eligible sectors for privileged regime:
- Agriculture, livestock, fisheries, agri-industry
- Manufacturing industry (textile, food processing, construction, plastics)
- Tourism (hospitality, eco-tourism, historic sites)
- Mining, quarries, renewable energy
- ICT services (BPO, data centers, fintech, edtech, healthtech)
- Health (clinics, medical equipment)
- Education and vocational training
- Infrastructure and transport
Excluded sectors: non-industrial retail, banking/insurance services, liberal professions, pure rental real estate.
Criterion 2 — Minimum investment thresholds
- Declarative regime (simple procedure): investment between 100,000,000 FCFA (~152,500 €) and 250,000,000 FCFA
- Conventional regime (negotiated with State): investment >250,000,000 FCFA (~381,250 €)
- Free export enterprise regime (EFE): export ≥80% of production, no minimum threshold
- SME regime: investment between 15,000,000 FCFA (~22,875 €) and 100,000,000 FCFA for local enterprises (Senegalese majority)
Criterion 3 — Direct job creation
- Minimum 3 direct Senegalese jobs for SMEs
- Minimum 25 jobs for large projects
- Local training and skills transfer commitment
H2: Tax and customs benefits
Investment phase (3-5 years depending on regime)
- Total VAT exemption on imports of materials, equipment and raw materials not locally available
- Customs duty exemption on capital goods
- Minimum lump-sum tax (IMF) exemption
- Employer flat contribution (CFCE) exemption
Operating phase (5-7 years depending on regime and zone)
| Benefit | Conventional regime | SME regime | EFE |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIT reduction | 25-50% for 5 years | 50% for 5 years | Full exemption 25 years |
| CFCE exemption | 5 years | 3 years | 25 years |
| Patente exemption | 5 years | 3 years | 25 years |
| Job creation tax credit | 50% gross salaries | 50% gross salaries | — |
Practical case: a French investor creates a textile assembly plant in Diamniadio (conventional regime + SEZ = cumulative). 800 M FCFA investment, 60 direct jobs. Benefits:
- 0% CIT for 5 years (then reduced 15% for 25 years in SEZ)
- 0% VAT machine imports (~50 M FCFA savings)
- 0% CFCE for 5 years
- Fast investment recovery: ROI 3-4 years vs 6-8 years without benefits
H2: Diamniadio Special Economic Zone (DISEZ)
The Diamniadio SEZ (created by law 2017-06 and decree 2017-535) is one of the 3 active special economic zones in Senegal in 2026 (with Sandiara and future Ndayane). Located 35 km from Dakar, 7 km from AIBD Blaise Diagne airport and the new city of Diamniadio.
Area: 53 hectares phase 1, 300 ha phase 2 extension planned.
DISEZ priority sectors
- Textile and clothing (cotton-fabric-garment value chain, Bangladesh/Turkey partnerships)
- Agri-food (local product processing, packaging, EU/USA export)
- BPO and ICT services (call centers, data centers, fintech)
- Pharmaceutical industry (generic production for UEMOA-ECOWAS market)
- Automotive and light mechanical industry
Specific SEZ benefits (cumulative with Investment Code)
- 0% CIT for 5 years (from first invoicing)
- 15% CIT from 6th year (vs 25-30% normal regime)
- Total VAT exemption for 25 years on intra-zone transactions
- Total customs duty exemption on inputs
- Simplified customs procedure (on-site clearance center)
- Accelerated work visa for qualified foreign personnel (48-72h)
- Free capital and dividend repatriation (dedicated SEZ account)
- Emphyteutic lease 25-50 years on developed land
DISEZ implantation costs
- Bare land: 25,000-45,000 FCFA / sqm / year lease (vs 75-150 KFCFA central Dakar)
- Turnkey factory building: 280,000-450,000 FCFA / sqm purchase or 4,500-7,500 FCFA / sqm / month rental
- Electrical connection: 0.090-0.110 USD / kWh (subsidized industrial rate)
- Guaranteed minimum 100 Mbps fiber internet: ~250,000 FCFA / month
H2: Foreign investor procedure — step by step
Step 1 — APIX pre-qualification (2-4 weeks)
Dossier submitted to APIX "Investment Promotion" department:
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- Detailed business plan (3-5 year financial projections)
- Market and feasibility study
- Project bearer CV + team CVs
- Financing proofs (bank letters, available capital)
- Employment and training plan
- Environmental impact study (if applicable)
Fees: free (APIX attractiveness policy). Response time: 15-30 business days.
Step 2 — Company creation (3-4 weeks)
SAS/SARL/SA creation via APIX BCE (cf Canadian/Italian diaspora articles). For foreign investors: possibility of 100% capital ownership (except reserved sectors: press, certain security activities).
Fees: 25,000 - 100,000 FCFA.
Step 3 — Investment Code approval request (2-3 months)
Complete approval dossier to APIX General Directorate:
- Registered company articles
- Detailed investment plan item by item
- Job creation and training commitment
- Implementation schedule (12-36 months)
APIX review commission decides. If favorable, approval signed by Investment Promotion Minister.
Step 4 — SEZ implantation (optional, +1-2 months)
If project eligible DISEZ: additional SEZ dossier + emphyteutic lease signature with SEZ Developer.
Step 5 — Operations start
- Team recruitment and training (often supported by 3FPT - Technical Vocational Training Financing Fund)
- Equipment import (simplified customs procedure)
- Gradual start-up to full capacity (typical 12-24 months)
H2: Practical case — Diaspora textile plant at DISEZ
Profile: Mrs. Sow, London resident, textile sector for 15 years, wants to relocate production of her ready-to-wear brand to Diamniadio.
Setup:
- Senegalese SAS creation (50 M FCFA capital via contribution)
- Investment Code conventional regime (600 M FCFA investment)
- DISEZ phase 1 implantation (3,000 sqm, 25-year lease)
- 80 direct jobs (seamstresses, quality control, logistics)
- 2026 production: 120,000 pieces/year for EU export (London warehouse)
Cumulative Code + SEZ benefits:
- 0% CIT years 1-5 = ~250 M FCFA cumulative savings
- VAT machine imports exemption = ~85 M FCFA savings
- 3FPT training subsidy 80 employees: 35 M FCFA
- SEZ land cost vs Dakar = 28 M FCFA/year savings
5-year ROI: 3.2 years (vs 6-8 years in UK or without Senegalese SEZ).
FAQ
Do I need to be Senegalese to benefit from the Investment Code?
No. Benefits apply to any investor (national or foreign), as long as the project is carried by a Senegalese law company (created in Senegal). 100% foreign capital authorized except reserved sectors (press, certain security activities).
Difference between DISEZ and other Senegalese SEZs?
DISEZ (Diamniadio): 53 ha, multi-sectoral, operational since 2018. Sandiara SEZ: agri-industrial (shea, mango, cashew processing). Future Ndayane SEZ: port and logistics (deepwater port). Choice depends on sector and logistics.
How long does the complete APIX procedure take?
Company creation: 10-18 days. Investment Code approval: 6-12 weeks average 2026 (APIX accelerated). SEZ implantation if applicable: +4-8 weeks. Door-to-door total: 4-6 months for large project.
Which high-growth sectors in Senegal 2026?
- Agri-industry processing (mango, shea, cashew, cowpea) — EU export 2. Textile clothing (cotton-fabric value chain) 3. UEMOA mobile money fintech 4. Renewable energy (solar, wind) 5. Francophone BPO (services for European market) 6. Generic pharmaceutical industry 7. Sustainable tourism.
How does Senegal compare to Morocco, Ivory Coast for setting up?
Senegal: #1 political stability West Africa, OHADA, francophone, growing ecosystem, competitive costs. Ivory Coast: bigger market (29M inhabitants vs 18M), dynamic free zones, but 30-50% higher land costs Abidjan. Morocco: EU gateway, premium infrastructure, but Arabic + French, costs +60-80% vs Senegal.
Let's talk about your case
If you plan to invest in Senegal (Investment Code + Diamniadio SEZ), we support the legal, tax and operational setup. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
_Disclaimer: information up to date 2026 (law 2017-04 revised Investment Code, law 2017-06 SEZ, decree 2017-535 DISEZ). For your specific case, consult an OHADA lawyer and dedicated APIX advisor._
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
