Senegal’s economy is expected to grow by four per cent in 2010 and 4.4 per cent
 next year, led by expansion in cement production and petroleum refining 
production, the country’s statistical agency said.


The West African nation is recovering from slower-than- expected growth last
year, when weakened external demand for Senegalese products hindered the
nation’s gross domestic product expansion to 2.2 per cent, the Dakar-based
agency said in a statement posted on its website today.


Senegal’s inflation is expected to accelerate from 1.4 per cent at the end of
this year to two per cent in 2011 while its budget deficit may be 4.3 per cent,
the agency said.


A new airport for the capital city and improvements to the road and railway
between Senegal and neighbouring land-locked countries of Mali and Burkina Faso 
should aid in boosting exports of cement by 26 per cent this year, the agency
 said.