Sadio Mane unveils £? no, currency must FCFA. Headline: Sadio Mane launches 11.7bn FCFA agro-industrial project in Bambali

Sadio Mane launches 11.7bn FCFA agro-industrial project in Bambali

Sadio Mane has announced plans to invest 11.7bn FCFA of his own money in a major agro-industrial complex in his home village of Bambali, Senegal.

The Senegal international unveiled SM10 Agro on Thursday, marking a shift from supporting social projects in his region to investing directly in its economy.

The foundation stone for the complex is due to be laid on Saturday 19 September in Bambali, in Moyenne-Casamance. Construction is expected to take about 18 months.

Speaking to the press, Mane said the project carried particular personal importance because of his connection to the area.

“I also want Bambali to be proud of what this project will bring to its children. It is a commitment I take very seriously because this is my native land,” he said.

SM10 Agro will focus on processing fruit grown in the region, including mangoes and guavas. The project is also intended to modernise farming methods, support local producers and provide training in agricultural techniques.

Mane, who opened a bakery in November last year, said he had secured the 11.7bn FCFA investment from his own funds.

The complex is expected to create more than 1,000 direct jobs when it opens. Further employment will be generated in transport, supplies and other services connected with the operation, while the project’s promoters estimate that up to 2,500 jobs could be supported once it reaches full capacity.

Creating employment is a central aim of the investment, particularly in a region where young people face limited professional opportunities.

“I want the young people and women of my region to have a real opportunity to train and develop,” Mane said.

The project will also target the substantial losses suffered by local farmers after harvest. Between 30% and 40% of the region’s mango crop currently goes to waste because there is insufficient storage and processing capacity locally.

“Today, 30 to 40% of the mango harvest is lost because there is no storage or processing here. I want the fruits of our land to stay here, at home, so that our people benefit from them first,” Mane said.

The plan is to process part of the Casamance’s agricultural production locally, retaining more of its value in the region rather than allowing crops to spoil or the economic benefits to be created elsewhere.

The SM10 Agro project builds on Mane’s longstanding involvement in Bambali and surrounding areas. The African Ballon d’Or winner has already helped fund a mosque, a hospital serving several dozen villages and a 17-classroom lycee, as well as housing, boreholes, a post office and a petrol station.

“This is the logical continuation of my social commitment, but on a different scale,” Mane said.