akar, Dec 7 (APS) - The Senegalese economy "is in no way controlled by a foreign private sector", said Monday, in Dakar, the Minister of Economy, Planning and Cooperation, Amadou Hott, arguing that 74% of companies with a turnover of more than 1 billion CFA francs are owned by local economic operators.

Amadou Hott made this clarification when the deputies examined, in plenary session, the budget planned for his ministry in 2021.

Speaking at the debate, MEP Mamadou Diop Decroix (Group of the Liberals and Democrats) denounced an "extroverted economy owned by foreigners".

Responding, Hott said foreign companies represent 26 percent of the Senegalese private sector and pay "more than 400 billion CFA francs to the State of Senegal" per year, as taxes and duties. And this amount does not include salaries and social contributions enjoyed by employees of foreign companies, according to the Minister of Economy, Planning and Cooperation.

"All countries in the world need foreign investment," he said, referring to the need for foreign companies to subcontract for the benefit of the domestic private sector. 

The payment appropriations planned for the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Cooperation, for next year, amount to 31 billion 882 million 581 thousand 584 CFA francs.

The amount of commitment authorizations is 92 billion 327 million 581 thousand 584.