Elma Saiz visita en Kayar (Senegal) proyectos de emprendimiento puestos en marcha por migrantes retornados

The Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, visited on Friday several projects of returning migrants in Kayar (Senegal) and which are part of the voluntary return strategy specially aimed at young people who decide to return to their country of origin.

This project, launched in collaboration with the CEPAIM Foundation, includes the dissemination of entrepreneurial skills among migrants returned to their country of origin. Information, awareness-raising, training for self-employment and business management activities are carried out. Thanks to the investment in the business, the participants manage to reinvest in their projects, expand production and generate a positive impact and growth in their communities.

“It is a real pride to be here visiting several assisted voluntary return projects in which we collaborate from the Ministry. This is a tremendously important initiative, as it shows that a different immigration policy is possible, always from the point of view of respect for human rights,” said Minister Elma Saiz.

The minister has visited businesses such as that of Mor, who after five months in Spain made the decision to return to Senegal to start a new business project. It is a micro-business of artisanal fishing – which will later have a staff of five workers – and which will allow it to fish on the Senegalese coast thanks to the acquisition of a motorized boat with radar.

In addition, Saiz has also had the opportunity to know the poultry farm of Cheikh, who thanks to this project, and in collaboration with several relatives, has managed to implement this business project that supplies agricultural products to the area.  

Modo and Abdoulaye, after a stay of several years in Spain, decided to return to Senegal to start artisanal fishing projects. Thanks to this project, both have been able to develop this business that allows them to obtain fish for sale in the area.

Senegal has consolidated in recent calls as the first African country to which more voluntary returns are made from Spain, many of them being productive returns and which focused on the following business activities: fishing, chicken farms, food stores, taxi drivers.

This project has the collaboration of the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration and is co-financed by the European Union. “International cooperation is fundamental to the success of these projects. An initiative that allows migrants to return to their country safely, where they can find well-being as well as job and economic stability,” said Saiz.