The 2005 budget for the Ministry for Industry and Artisans in Senegal has increased with respect to previous years by more than one billion CFA. This brings it to just under six and a half million US dollars. Personnel expenditure for 2005 has fallen by approximately ten million CFA to just over 260 million for the incumbent management. Conveyance expenditure has also fallen – the larger budget is coming almost wholly from administrative expenditure, which has increased to just over 250 million CFA (approximately half a million USD). During the budget ballot deputies raised questions relating to the revival of village artisan studios in Ziguinchor and Sodezi, the mango drying program and the creation of village artisan studios in certain areas, notably in Oussouye, Bignona, and Darou Mousty. The minister for State, Industry and Artisans, Mr. Landing Savané, has indicated that most programs were going well, only that further financing was still required. He particularly regreted the weak exports of artisan products especially given the opportunities that exist from France and Agoa. He thus urged all traditional artists, those of Mékhé in particular to produce export quality goods. This boost in funding represents a further investment in artisan development by the Senegalese government. The rise in administrative costs is not surprising, given the establishment of artistic communities and trade fair opportunities that we have seen in the last two years. Whether the funds will meet Savané’s desire for heightened exports rates remains to be seen, however, as traditional artisans in Senegal still have difficulty exposing their work to larger markets. For more information (in French), please CLICK HERE.