Sadio Mané launches $20 million agro-industrial project in Bambali

Senegalese footballer Sadio Mané has launched SM10 Agro, a major agro-industrial project in his hometown of Bambali, located in the Sédhiou region. The initiative involves a personal investment of approximately 11.7 billion CFA francs (roughly $20 million) to establish a 500-hectare mango plantation and industrial processing facilities.

The project aims to address significant post-harvest losses in the Casamance region, where an estimated 30% to 40% of mango production is lost due to inadequate storage and processing infrastructure. The complex will feature units to produce mango pulp, dried fruit, and mango butter, with an annual processing capacity estimated between 8,500 and 10,500 tonnes.

SM10 Agro is expected to create over 1,000 direct jobs at launch, with the potential to reach 2,500 jobs in the long term. The development also includes a vocational training center for youth and women, as well as research and development facilities. Following the laying of the foundation stone on September 19, 2026, Mané was received by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to discuss the project's impact on local economic development and food sovereignty.