Senegal: Sadio Mané launches a 11.7 billion CFA franc mango park

Sadio Mané inaugurated an agro-industrial park on Saturday, September 19, in Bambali, located in the Sédhiou region, dedicated to the production and processing of mangoes, with an investment of 11.7 billion CFA francs. The laying of the foundation stone marks the start of the SM10 Agro project, which will cover an area of 500 hectares.

The facility is designed to process up to 8,500 tons of mangoes annually. It will include a processing center aimed at export, as well as three industrial units for producing pulp, dried mangoes, and mango butter.

The Agency for the Promotion of Investments and Major Works, which is supporting the project, announced the creation of over 1,000 direct jobs. The initiative also includes agricultural production activities and aims to provide new opportunities for producers in southern Senegal.

The project aims to retain more added value in the region by processing part of the harvest locally. The products will be targeted for the Senegalese market as well as for export opportunities in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

SM10 Agro was presented in Dakar prior to the launch of the construction. APIX and the Confluence group confirmed an investment of 11.7 billion CFA francs, a land area of 500 hectares, and a processing capacity of 8,500 tons per year.

The park will also include a training component for agricultural professions and a research and development hub. According to RTS, the project benefits from the investment support framework in Senegal, including tax and customs exemptions on certain imported equipment.

RTS reports that the construction work is scheduled to take place over a period of 18 months.