Elma Saiz visits entrepreneurship projects set up by returned migrants in Kayar (Senegal)

The Minister for Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, Elma Saiz, with a group of returning migrants

This project, launched in collaboration with the CEPAIM Foundation, includes the dissemination of entrepreneurial skills among migrants returning to their home countries. Information, awareness-raising, training for self-employment and business management activities are carried out. By investing in the business, participants are able to reinvest in their projects, expand production and generate positive impact and growth in their communities.

"It is a real pride to be able 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 migration policy is possible, always from the point of view of respect for human rights," said minister Elma Saiz.

The minister visited businesses such as Mor, who after five months in Spain decided to return to Senegal to start a new business project. It is a small-scale fishing micro-business - which will later have a staff of five - and which will enable it to fish off the Senegalese coast thanks to the acquisition of a motorised boat with radar.

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

Modou and Abdoulaye, after several years in Spain, decided to return to Senegal to start their own small-scale 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 its position in recent calls as the main African country to which most voluntary returns are made from Spain, many of them being productive returns and focused on the following business activities: fishing, chicken farms, food shops, taxi drivers.

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

Non official translation