The car park, which extends over four hectares, will make it possible to relieve congestion at the Autonomous Port of Dakar and shorten the unloading time for containers to be sent to Mali, explained Mr. Guèye, who is also a minister and adviser to President Macky Sall on agricultural and industrial issues.

This car park, which is part of the first phase of the dry port of Sandiara, is a tool for integration, a symbol of friendship and relations (...) between the Malian and Senegalese people. It will be connected to the autonomous port of Dakar and to the future ports of Bargny-Sendou and Ndayane", situated in the region of Dakar (West), underlined the mayor of Sandiara during the inauguration ceremony.

The construction of the dry port will cost 10 billion CFA francs, he said, adding that once its construction is completed, the infrastructure will facilitate the transport of general cargo from Dakar to Bamako.

The dry port of Sandiara will have a capacity of 6,000 containers, according to Mr. Guèye. A mosque, a market, shops, restaurants, sports facilities, offices, service stations and a gendarmerie station will be built within the airport infrastructure.

Makan Fily Dabo salutes the "hospitality" and "solidarity" of the people of Sandiara towards the carriers of his country.

The presidents of Mali and Senegal "resolutely believe in integration between our two countries and attach importance to trade," Mr. Dabo said.

Seventy percent of the hydrocarbons, solid or liquid products manufactured in Senegal imported by Mali come from Senegal, said the general manager of Malian warehouses in Senegal, Fousseynou Soumanou, at the inauguration ceremony.

Makan Fily Dabo invited the transporters of his country to "strictly respect" the highway code, laws and regulations in force in Senegal.