Rahma Foods, a Gambian company owned by Alasan Ceesay, has secured €20 million in funding to establish two major factories in The Gambia to produce concentrated tomato, Mango, and other fruit juices.
Announcing the news to Alkamba Times. Mr. Ceesay emphasized that the deal is a significant step toward transforming The Gambia into a food manufacturing hub in the subregion.
“We aim to create jobs, support communities, boost the economy, and most importantly, to be part of the Gambia’s journey to be food self-sufficient,” he said.
He also outlined the phased plan for building the two factories and their locations. He said phase one will be a juice factory in Foni Kang Fenda.
The first phase involves setting up a mango and other fruit juice production factory in Foni Kang Fenda, which will be operational within the next twelve months.
According to Mr. Ceesay, this factory will be a groundbreaking development in Foni, providing much-needed jobs and economic growth to one of the most deprived areas of The Gambia, yet rich in resources. The project will enhance local infrastructure, create new opportunities for the community, and foster development and hope.
Cessay explained that phase two will be a Tomato and Ketchup Factory in Kiang.
The second phase will see the construction of a 500,000-tonne annual capacity tomato and ketchup factory in Kiang, where Alasan Ceesay originally hails from.
“This project is particularly significant for the entire subregion, the country, and local farmers, especially women. It will provide a stable market for their produce, create numerous jobs, and stimulate the local economy. By supporting local farmers, Rahma Foods empowers them and significantly improves their livelihoods for today and future generations.”
Fully funded by international partners, these projects are crucial steps towards reducing The Gambia’s dependence on food imports. Our goal and vision at Rahma Gambia Ltd have always been to produce enough food to feed ourselves as a nation and export to other regions, making The Gambia self-sufficient and economically resilient,” he said.
Atradius, a world-leading provider of trade finance, announced the partnership with Rahma on its website. It highlighted that the mango factory will initially cater to the local market and plan to export in the future.
“Alasan noticed that many mango trees grow in his region, while little is done with the yield. They are largely rotting away on the ground. Until now, there was no need for the farmers to have a good yield from the mango trees, but if they can bring the mangoes to the factory, that will change. Therefore, the idea is to start helping the farmers increase their yields. The underlying idea is to give the entire region an economic boost in this way. The juice is initially intended for the local market and, in the longer term, also for export,” Atradius Dutch State Business said.
“In addition to the mango factory, Alasan’s ambition is to help women in the region responsible for growing tomatoes. He wants to do this by setting up a processing production line for tomatoes,” it added.
Rahma Gambia Limited was founded in 2018 by Alasan Ceesay, a Cambridge-educated British-Gambian entrepreneur. The company started as an importer and distributor of essential food products. The raw materials are purchased in bulk and repackaged into smaller packages, mainly agricultural raw materials such as rice, sugar, and milk powder. A production line for Mango and other local fruit juices has been added.
Atradius noted that the juice is primarily intended for the local market and, in the long term, for export. The intention is to help farmers increase their yields, thereby boosting the entire region’s economy.
