Saint-Louis — The director general of the Bureau de mise à niveau (BMN), Ibrahima Diouf, on Thursday signed financing agreements with the heads of 13 companies in the northern zone, for a total approved investment amount of 887 million CFA francs.

The companies concerned are active in the processing and marketing of fishery products, accommodation, catering, manufacture and marketing of bread, livestock, agriculture, said the director general of the Office of Upgrading (BMN).

The program "Developing employment in Senegal, strengthening the competitiveness of companies and employability in the starting areas" supported a total of 43 companies from the north for a total amount of approved investment of 3, 8 billion CFA francs and bonuses granted of 1.58 billion CFA francs, including 377 million paid to companies, according to Ibrahima Diouf.

He noted that this program, financed by the European Union (EU), with the delegation to the French Development Agency (AFD), has an overall budget of 26 billion CFA francs, including 7.7 billion CFA francs for the upgrading of companies.

Ibrahima Diouf also stressed that the program aims to "support the creation and development of small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the training and professional integration of young people in the regions of Tambacounda, Saint-Louis, Louga, Kédougou and Matam".

The aim is to combat illegal immigration.