Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – The Turkish conglomerate Albayrak Group, already operating in The Gambia through its port management subsidiary Alport and currently spearheading the development of a new port in Sanyang, is set to further cement its presence in West Africa with a major agricultural investment in Senegal.
The company has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with the Government of Senegal to establish a tractor assembly plant in the country, a project expected to serve not only Senegal but also the wider West African market.
The deal was concluded during Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s official visit to Türkiye and is seen as a major step towards modernizing agriculture and reducing dependence on food imports.
The plant will assemble tractors, provide after-sales services, supply spare parts, and launch a vocational school specializing in modern farming techniques. This initiative is part of Senegal’s drive to achieve food sovereignty, especially in the wake of global supply chain disruptions triggered by the Russia–Ukraine war.
To carry out this restructuring initiative, Senegal commits to mobilizing developed industrial zones, implementing the Investment Code, and simplifying administrative procedures. Albayrak and its local partners will be responsible for providing equipment, technical assistance, and active collaboration with Senegalese businesses. Several national operators, such Oumou Group and Diass Industries, have already declared their support, demonstrating the value of public-private collaboration.
From Ports to Farms
Albayrak Group’s growing role in African development projects is well established in The Gambia, where its subsidiary Alport took over operations of the Banjul port, in January this year, under a public–private partnership with the Gambian government.
The company has since invested in upgrading port facilities, streamlining cargo handling, and enhancing maritime logistics. In 2024, Albayrak signed an agreement for a $1 billion deep-water port in Sanyang, designed to transform the country into a key regional shipping hub.
This latest agricultural project in Senegal reflects Albayrak’s strategy of diversifying its African portfolio beyond ports and logistics into sectors such as agriculture, construction, and transportation. The company has launched similar farming initiatives in Guinea and is planning expansions into The Gambia, Sierra Leone, the Republic of the Congo, and Somalia.
The Senegal tractor plant is aligned with Dakar’s “Senegal 2050” strategy, which aims to secure major investment partners through public–private partnership and build–operate–transfer models. Prime Minister Sonko’s Türkiye trip, which included meetings with 20 Turkish companies across multiple sectors, followed President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s state visit to Ankara in 2024, underscoring the growing ties between the two countries.
For The Gambia, Albayrak’s agricultural ambitions could complement its port infrastructure projects by creating an integrated trade and logistics network for regional food production and export.
