Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Trade Fairs: Mayor Abass Fall rolls out the red carpet for local entrepreneurship and African delegations

The square in front of City Hall is buzzing with the energy of African entrepreneurship. Mayor Abass Fall inaugurated the craft and culinary fairs organized alongside the Youth Olympic Games on Monday. With Ethiopia as the guest of honor and ten delegations from across the continent participating, this event offers a giant showcase for local creators. Drawing on the results of training provided to over 8,000 people since January, the mayor announced the imminent release of funding to transform projects into economic success stories.

Alongside the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, artisans, women, and young entrepreneurs have an international platform to showcase their creations and conquer new markets. The Mayor of Dakar, Abass Fall, officially inaugurated the craft, culinary, and institutional fairs on Monday, November 2nd, on the steps of City Hall. This event is designed to stimulate local expertise and boost trade.

Several African delegations are taking part in this major event. Ethiopia, designated as the guest of honor, is represented alongside Côte d'Ivoire, Cape Verde, Morocco, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritania, Comoros, Benin, Togo, and the Central African Republic. Following the opening ceremony, officials and guests enjoyed a tasting of Ethiopian cuisine offered by the delegation.

Beyond the mere exhibition, the major challenge of these fairs lies in providing direct access to buyers. The goal is to enable artisans and small entrepreneurs to find clients, secure their first orders, and sell their products at fair prices to ensure they are properly compensated for their efforts. "Market access is at the heart of my commitment," declared Abass Fall, determined to make these commercial spaces a lasting economic springboard for local businesses.

Towards massive funding for trained beneficiaries

The mayor took the opportunity to highlight the actions undertaken beforehand: since January 2026, 8,103 people have benefited from vocational training sessions. The next step will be to solidify this support through the allocation of direct funding. The trained project leaders will soon be invited to an official check presentation ceremony. "We must transform the lives of the beneficiaries. This must be reflected in a growing business, a job created, and a family that gains security," emphasized the mayor of Dakar.

Women's economic empowerment is one of the pillars of this municipal policy. The efforts made by the management of the Municipal Development Fund (FODEM), under the leadership of its director Sam Aminata Diop, were commended, reaffirming the municipality's commitment to women's financial independence.

For Dakar's youth, a dedicated digital platform will soon facilitate project submissions, access to information, and guidance toward support programs, with particular attention paid to those from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities. The training modules offered cover diverse sectors such as livestock farming, dairy processing, and leather goods, as demonstrated by the thirty-two participants trained in milk processing techniques. The municipality also aims to institutionalize the Support and Development Center (CEDAC) to ensure its long-term integration into the capital's economic agenda, in collaboration with the European Union, GIZ, and all technical and financial partners.

The ceremony took place in a festive atmosphere, punctuated by cultural activities and performances, offering visitors the opportunity to discover locally made clothing, works of art, and a variety of culinary specialties. It concluded with an urgent appeal to the public to actively support the exhibitors through direct purchases and orders, so that these festive gatherings could lead to strong business partnerships.