Former Senegal captain Sadio Mané has laid the foundation stone for a $20 million agro-industrial park in his hometown of Bambali, southern Senegal. The project, known as SM10 Agro, aims to create jobs and boost agricultural production in the community. Mané performed the foundation-laying ceremony on September 19, and the project is expected to cost 11.7 billion CFA francs. The football star said the project is being financed entirely from his personal funds, with construction expected to be completed within 18 months.
The agro-industrial park will occupy about 500 hectares and feature orchards, four processing units, and facilities capable of handling up to 8,500 tonnes of agricultural produce annually. The project is expected to create more than 1,000 direct jobs when operations begin. A training centre and research facility will also form part of the development, with the project designed to support agricultural production, processing, and skills development in the region.
Mango processing will be at the heart of the project, reflecting the agricultural potential of Bambali and the wider Moyenne-Casamance region. The area produces significant quantities of mangoes, but a considerable portion of the harvest is reportedly lost each year due to inadequate storage, processing facilities, and market access. Through SM10 Agro, Mané plans to process mangoes into purée, dried mango, and mango butter for both domestic consumption and export.
Guava will also be processed as part of the project. Mané underscored his intention to ensure that agricultural produce from the community generates greater economic value locally, saying, "I want the fruits of the land to stay here." The project represents a shift in Mané's philanthropic activities in Bambali, where he has previously invested in social infrastructure, including a mosque, school, hospital, and petrol station.
Over the past decade, Mané has funded several projects in his hometown, including a bakery that opened in November. However, he has increasingly spoken about the need to move beyond philanthropy by creating sustainable economic opportunities for residents. The agro-industrial project is aimed at supporting production, employment, and local value creation while giving farmers access to processing facilities and wider markets.
At 34, Mané remains one of Senegal's most celebrated footballers, having scored 52 goals for Senegal, the highest tally in the country's history. He finished second in the 2022 Ballon d'Or voting and won the Socrates Prize that year in recognition of his social and humanitarian contributions. Mané began his European career with Metz before playing for Red Bull Salzburg, Southampton, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich.
Mané's latest investment has placed him among a group of major domestic investors backing Senegal's agricultural sector, including Sedima, Industries Chimiques du Sénégal, and rice producer Ciriz. With SM10 Agro, Mané is seeking to combine his personal investment with Senegal's agricultural potential, turning produce from his hometown into processed products, jobs, and new business opportunities.
Key points
- Sadio Mané's $20m agro-industrial park project in Bambali, Senegal, aims to create over 1,000 jobs and boost agricultural production.
- The project will feature orchards, four processing units, and facilities capable of handling up to 8,500 tonnes of agricultural produce annually.
- Mané's investment is part of a larger trend of domestic investors backing Senegal's agricultural sector.
