WPCIA Washington April 9, 2018

　　Sika is continuing to expand its production capacity in West Africa with the opening of a concrete admixture factory in Senegal. The new plant is the first in the country. Sika has a total of 19 national subsidiaries and 20 factories in Africa.

　　“Senegal is one of the fastest growing West African countries, and we are gaining an early foothold in these growth markets,” said Ivo Schädler, regional manager EMEA. “Large-scale investment projects in infrastructure, transport, energy and water plus recently discovered oil reserves are making a crucial contribution to the emerging country's development. Our growth strategy in Africa has paid off. Over the last five years we have increased sales by more than 18 percent per year."

　　Senegal has one of the strongest growth rates of any sub-Saharan African country, according to Sika. Its economy has grown by an average annual rate of 6.5 percent in the past two years, the company said. The forecast for 2018 is seven percent, per Sika. Growth is being driven by the "Plan for an Emerging Senegal" which was launched in 2014 and runs until 2035, Sika said. Its aim is to boost urban centers with significant economic potential through infrastructure projects and other measures, according to Sika.