Senegal Launches Kolda Agro-Industrial Park to Boost Farming and Jobs

The Kolda park is part of the Agropole-Sud project, a flagship initiative under Senegal’s National Agropole Development Programme.

Senegal has inaugurated the Kolda Agro-Industrial Park, a major step in strengthening agricultural value chains and boosting local economies. The 15-hectare park, unveiled by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on April 24, 2026, is designed to process maize, mangoes, and cashews on-site while creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs. The event was attended by senior government officials, including Serigne Guèye Diop, Minister of Industry and Trade, and representatives from development partners such as Wilfrid Abiola, Country Office Manager for the African Development Bank Group in Senegal.

Agropole-Sud Strengthens Agricultural Value Chains

The Kolda park is part of the Agropole-Sud project, a flagship initiative under Senegal's National Agropole Development Programme. The project aims to establish integrated infrastructure across eight territorial hubs to make agriculture and the agri-food sector more competitive, resilient, and value-creating. It forms part of a broader plan to increase agricultural production, improve food sovereignty, and stimulate domestic processing.

Co-financed by the African Development Bank Group to the tune of 28.3 billion CFA francs (approximately $50.5 million) and supported by the Islamic Development Bank, the park will focus on key agricultural sectors including maize, mangoes, and cashews. It complements similar agro-industrial developments in Adéane and other regions, linking farming to value-added production and market access.

Jobs, Youth Opportunities, and Rural Development

The Agropole-Sud project is projected to generate 15,000 direct jobs and 35,000 indirect jobs, providing opportunities for young people and women. During the inauguration, President Diomaye also conducted field visits and meetings with local officials and economic actors, highlighting improvements in youth employment, access to drinking water, connectivity, and broader support for rural communities.

The African Development Bank Group reaffirmed its commitment to Senegal's long-term economic transformation, supporting structural development and enhancing agricultural productivity. The park is expected to stimulate local markets, strengthen value chains, and improve livelihoods for thousands of farmers and their families.

The Kolda Agro-Industrial Park demonstrates Senegal's ambition to combine modern infrastructure with agricultural innovation, creating sustainable economic growth and improving opportunities for communities across the southern region.

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