A historic investment agreement in the agro-industrial sector was signed in Bangui on April 15, 2025. Estimated at $1.2 billion, this project, led by the Indian group Mahasakthi, will process sugarcane and cassava on 30,000 hectares, with strong involvement of local planters and the creation of more than 100,000 direct jobs.
The Central African Republic has reached a decisive milestone in its quest for economic development. On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Bangui, a major investment agreement was signed in the presence of President Faustin Archange Touadéra. This agreement, worth a total of $1.2 billion, seals the partnership between the Central African Republic and the Indian giant Mahasakthi Group in the field of sugarcane and cassava cultivation and processing. The signatories to this commitment are Mr. Rajkumar, Chairman of Mahasakthi Group; Mr. Richard Filakota, Minister of Economy, Planning and International Cooperation; Mr. Hervé Ndoba, Minister of Finance and Budget; and Mr. Albert F. Bengala, CEO of SCIS Group.
The project involves the cultivation of 20,000 hectares of sugarcane and 10,000 hectares of cassava. Half of the land will be directly exploited by Mahasakthi Group, the other half reserved for local volunteer planters, with a minimum of 5 hectares per entrepreneur. This scheme should enable more than 3,000 local agro-entrepreneurs to actively participate in the national agricultural dynamic. “This project marks the renewed respect for the Central African Republic after years of turbulence,” said Minister Richard Filakota, emphasizing the country’s growing attractiveness and its vast arable land estimated at more than 5 million hectares.
Mr. Rajkumar highlighted the Mahasakthi Group’s experience in India, where it cultivates 100,000 hectares of sugarcane, produces 14,000 tons per day, and employs more than 100,000 people. He stated that this model would be replicated in the Central African Republic, with a guaranteed buyback system for local sugarcane and cassava production. “We do it in India, we will do it in the Central African Republic,” he assured. Two power plants, with a combined capacity of 70 megawatts, will be built to support this transformation, notably by reusing sugarcane residue.
Dr. Guy-Laurent Fondjo, President of Afriland First Holding, the project’s facilitating partner, emphasized the holistic dimension of this initiative. According to him, the project integrates both an economic component, with the establishment of robust investment mechanisms, and a social component, thanks to the direct involvement of local communities. “This project empowers local planters to become agricultural entrepreneurs. This is how we create shared and sustainable wealth,” he said.
With more than 100,000 direct jobs expected, this project could transform the local economy and significantly reduce unemployment, while developing strategic agro-industrial sectors. The first stages of implementation are already underway, with the identification of arable land and areas for processing plants. This public-private partnership marks a new era for the Central African Republic, symbolizing a country that is recovering and now attracting large-scale investment. This dynamic brings hope for inclusive and sustainable development.
