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Country Commercial Guides for FY 2000: Senegal Report prepared by U.S. Embassy Dakar, released July 1999    Note*

CHAPTER IX. BUSINESS TRAVEL

Senegal is served by a number of international airlines, including direct service from New York via Air Afrique. Delta Airlines operates codesharing with Air France between Dakar and Paris.

The United States Embassy offers assistance and counsel to U.S. business travelers visiting Senegal. Interested persons/businesses should contact the Commercial Officer well in advance by fax at (221) 822-29-91, by phone at (221) 823-42-96, or by E-mail at dakarcom@telecomplus.sn. The U.S. Embassy also offers Gold Key service and information is available on the Embassy commercial information web site http://www.dakarcom.com. Correspondence may be sent by domestic U.S. mail to the Economic/Commercial Section, U.S. Embassy Dakar, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2130, or by international airmail to BP 49, Dakar, Senegal (transit time: variable, about 10 days) or by an international air express company (transit time: 3-4 days).

Business travelers may also consult with the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration (ITA) Desk Officer by telephone at 202-377-4388.

Business Customs

Senegal has inherited French commercial traditions. Business practices, accounting methods and legal procedures derive from the French system. Business correspondence, catalogs and advertising materials should be prepared in French.

Accustomed to conducting business over the telephone or by fax, American businesspersons may find that local decision-making operates at a slower pace than in the United States. Repeated personal contacts are often necessary to establish a working relationship with business partners.

Travel Advisory and Visas

A passport is required for entry. U.S. citizens do not need a visa for stays of less than 90 days. Evidence of a vaccination for yellow fever may be required at the port of entry. For further information, travelers may contact the Embassy of the Republic of Senegal, 2112 Wyoming Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20008, telephone: (202) 234-0540.

Current travel information about Senegal and other countries is available by telephone at (202) 647-5225, via the Consular Affairs Bulletin Board at telephone (202) 647-9225 or via fax at (202) 647-3000.

Entry Requirements: There are several types of items that cannot be brought into Senegal without clearance by Senegalese Customs. These include computers and computer parts, video cameras and players, stereo equipment, tape players, automobile parts and various tools and spare parts. Airport customs officials will hold such items if brought in as baggage or carry-on luggage. Travelers are urged to obtain the latest information on customs and entry requirements from the Embassy of Senegal, 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20008, telephone (202) 234-0540. Overseas inquiries should be made at the nearest Senegalese Embassy or Consulate.

Areas of Instability: U.S. Government personnel are subject to restrictions on travel to the Casamance area of southern Senegal due to recent incidents involving Casamance separatists. U.S. citizens contemplating travel to the Casamance area are urged to contact the U.S. Embassy in Dakar for the latest travel and security information. The Embassy has advised U.S. citizens to avoid travel to the area south of the Casamance River from the Ziguinchor-Bissau road east to the village of Tanaf, excluding the towns of Ziguinchor and Cap Skirring. Travelers should remain on the major hard-surfaced routes, and drive only during daylight hours. Camping or visiting villages along these routes is strongly discouraged, with the exception of camping within Cap Skirring. Road travel between Mauritania and Senegal is restricted to several designated border crossing points, and delays at the border are normal. Political gatherings and street demonstrations occur occasionally. U. S. citizens should avoid large crowds and maintain security awareness at all time.

Medical Facilities: Medical facilities are limited, particularly in areas outside the capital, Dakar. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health care services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid or accepted outside the United States. The Medicare/Medicaid program does not provide for payment of medical services outside the United States. Travelers have found supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including provision for medical evacuation, to be useful. For additional health information, travelers may contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's International Travelers hotline at 1-877-fyi-trip; fax 1-888-cdc-faxx; Internet: http://www.cdc.gov.

Information on Crime: Street crime in Senegal poses moderate risks for visitors. Most reported incidents involve pickpockets, purse-snatchers and street scam artists. Wallets, jewelry and other valuables are subject to theft, especially during times of international meetings or events that draw large crowds. In Dakar, there has been a relatively high incidence of purse snatching and muggings in a popular restaurant area known locally as "La Petite Corniche", which is located along a three kilometer stretch of coastal road in the southeastern part of the city.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to local police and to the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The pamphlets "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa" provide useful information on protecting personal security while traveling abroad and on travel in the region in general. Both are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington DC 20402, via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travelstate.gov

Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs are strict and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines.

Embassy Location/Registration: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy at Avenue Jean XXIII, Dakar, and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Senegal. The mailing address is BP 49, Dakar, Senegal. The telephone number is (221) 823-42-96.

Holidays

January 1 (New Year's)
April 4 (Independence Day)
May 1 (International Labor Day)
August 15 (Assumption Day)
November 1 (All Saints Day)
December 25 (Christmas Day)

In addition, the following holidays are observed according to the religious calendars: Korite, Tabaski, Mawlud, Easter Monday, Ascension and Pentecost.

Business Infrastructure

Air Transportation: The Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport is the hub of the sub-region. Dakar is linked to 23 African cities by air, and 20 weekly flights go to Europe. The Dakar international airport is the only one in the UEMOA region certified by FAA to handle direct flights to the United States.

Port: Dakar has one of the largest deep-water seaports along the West African coast. Its deep-draft structure and 640 foot-wide access channel allows round-the-clock access to the port. Its current infrastructure includes tanker vessel loading and unloading terminals, a container terminal with a storage capacity of 3000 20-foot-equivalent units, a cereals and fishing port, a dedicated phosphate terminal and a privately-run ship repair facility. The port's location at the extreme western point of Africa, at the crossroad of the major sea-lanes linking Europe to South America makes it a natural port of call for shipping companies. A number of shipping companies sail to Dakar from U.S. ports, but usually by transshipment in Europe. The main direct-call U.S/West Africa carriers are Wilhemsen lines, Torm Line and America Africa Delmas Line. In addition, Maersk Line offers weekly sailings from the U.S. to Dakar with transshipment in Algeciras in Southern Spain. The total transit time from Houston, New Orleans and Miami is respectively 34, 36 and 40 days.

Ground Transportation: Taxis (black-yellow in color) are cheap, numerous and available everywhere in Dakar. Most of them are metered. For travel outside Dakar, public transportation is available, but often unreliable and uncomfortable. U.S. visitors who plan to stay in Dakar for some days are advised to rent a car plus a driver. Numerous car rental agencies offer first-class service and have a desk at the airport and in hotels. Credit cards are accepted for payment.

Communications: International calls to most countries can be dialed directly. The country code is 221. Cable, telex, fax, paging and Internet services are available. A number of cybercafes are located in Dakar. Cellular telephones are very popular. They operate on the GSM standard. Dakar is on Greenwich Meridian Time, five times zone ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST). Daylight Savings Time is not observed in Senegal.

Banks: Open Monday through Friday from 7:45 am to 12:15 pm and from 1:30 pm to 3:45 pm. Citibank is the only U.S. bank present in Senegal. Some local banks operate Automatic Teller Machines, which handle MasterCard, Visa and Cirrus cards. It is possible for U.S. visitors to receive wire transfer money via Western Union and Money Gram. Foreign exchange bureaus are available in downtown Dakar.

Hotels: Dakar has business hotels of excellent reputation. Most of these hotels have business centers. The Embassy recommends the following:

Hotel Meridien Tel: 221-820-15-15/Fax: 820-30-30. The Meridien is the most prestigious hotel in Dakar. Its location - far from downtown Dakar - can be an inconvenience for business travelers.

Hotel Teranga: Tel: 221-823-10-44/Fax: 823-50-01. The Teranga's strategic location in the heart of Dakar is very convenient, but it is somewhat rundown.

Hotel Savana: Tel: 221-823-60-23/Fax: 823-85-86.

Hotel Lagon II: Tel: 221-823-58-31/Fax: 823-77-27

Hotel Novotel: Tel: 221-823-10-90/Fax: 823-89-29

Office rental: Most offices are located in the downtown Dakar called the Plateau. The rent varies depending upon the location and the length of the lease.

Language: The principal language of international business in Senegal is French. Many Senegalese businesspeople can conduct basic business in English, but fewer are comfortable with extended or technical conversations. High level professional interpretation is available at USD 600-700 per day for business meetings.

Health: The general level of health is good. Malaria is a leading cause of death in the countryside. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended since there is a high incidence of Chloroquine-resistant malaria in Senegal; travelers should begin taking a recommended antimalarial drug at least two weeks before arrival. Proof of yellow fever immunization during the previous 10 years is mandatory to enter Senegal.

Food: The Senegalese diet is based on rice, millet served with fish, meat and various sauces. Travelers should drink only bottled water, which is available at most food stores, hotels and restaurants. Fruits and vegetables should be peeled or cooked. There are numerous first class restaurants in Dakar. They offer excellent fish and French cuisine as well as international specialties.

U.S. business travelers are encouraged to obtain a copy of the "Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts: Guide for Business Representatives" available for sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing office, Washington, D.C. 20402; tel: (202) 512-1800; fax: (202) 512-2250. Business travelers to Senegal seeking appointments with U.S. Embassy Dakar officials should contact the commercial section in advance. The commercial section can be reached by telephone at 221-823-42-96, fax: 221-822-29-91, or email at dakarcom@telecomplus.sn.