Advisory Board Portrait : Daouda FALL
Today with Daouda FALL, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Brahms Group, Guinea & Senegal.
Young African decision-makers must believe in their dreams, because it is through their work and dedication that the emergence of our countries will be possible.
As the CEO of Brahms Group, an investment and project development company operating in the agri-food and energy sectors across West Africa, how does your company intend to seize the opportunities in Senegal’s agri-food sector, considering the current socio-political challenges and the growing imperative of ensuring food security in the country? Food security is a cornerstone of the Senegalese government’s priorities. The state’s determination to advance the agro-industrial sector provides us with robust administrative and political support. For instance, to enhance logistical and infrastructural connectivity in the region, the government is spearheading the construction of a road linking our farm to the nearest major urban center. This political commitment underpins the sustainability of our investments. Senegal remains a net importer of essential food products, and the issue of food sovereignty is paramount, especially given the country’s demographic growth. Our large-scale project enables us to realize economies of scale, positioning us competitively against imports, which will ultimately benefit local consumers.
What outlook can you share regarding the anticipated impact of this project on urbanization trends, immigration dynamics, and the broader national economy of Senegal? In alignment with our Corporate Social Responsibility policy, we aspire to deliver a transformative economic, social, and environmental impact that mitigates the pressing challenges of urbanization and immigration. By fostering local development, we aim to contribute economically through the creation of direct and indirect employment, complemented by the establishment of a technical training center. On the social front, we plan to set up a health center, while our environmental contribution will include the deployment of a solar power plant to supply clean energy to local communities. Moreover, we will implement a community development program, developed in concert with local authorities, to address the specific needs of the region. At the national level, the project will primarily have an economic impact by improving the trade balance through a significant reduction in cereal imports. These combined initiatives, grounded in local engagement, are expected to advance regional development while alleviating urbanization and migration pressures.
As the head of the Guinean Refining Company, could you provide an update on the progress and significant milestones of the project to construct Guinea’s first oil refinery, launched in June 2015 in partnership with the Guinean government and your Swiss firm, Brahms Oil? This project epitomizes the complexities of executing large-scale infrastructure initiatives in Africa’s hydrocarbons sector. Despite an investment exceeding ten million dollars to date, the project has faced setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which drove up construction costs in 2020. Subsequently, political instability in 2021 and escalating financing costs have further impeded progress. Unfortunately, infrastructure projects of this magnitude—particularly in the hydrocarbons sector—are highly susceptible to the fluctuations of global economic conditions and the vicissitudes of local political environments. To overcome these obstacles, we have restructured the project and adopted a phased approach. The initial phase will focus on establishing the port and storage infrastructure, which will subsequently pave the way for the refinery’s construction.
As a member of the Advisory Board, what message would you like to convey to the young leaders emerging from the African continent? My principal message would be to encourage them to steadfastly believe in their aspirations and to pursue them with unwavering determination. It is through perseverance, hard work, and sacrifice that we will collectively achieve the emergence and development of our nations.
What is your assessment of the impact of the Choiseul 100 Africa ranking, now in its 10th edition, and the Choiseul Africa Business Forum, celebrating its 5th edition this fall, on Africa’s economic development?