In a rapidly changing mining sector, AFG Bank Mali is taking the lead. By launching the Local Content Champion Program (LCCP) on October 27, 2025, in Bamako, the bank affirms its ambition: to bring forth a new generation of competitive and structured local companies. Seydou Coulibaly, Deputy General Manager in charge of operations, discusses the foundations of this strategic program, the internal synergies it mobilizes, and the long-term vision of a banking actor firmly committed to Mali’s economic sovereignty.
Mr. Coulibaly, why is AFG Bank Mali launching the Local Content Champion Program (LCCP)?
The LCCP was born out of a simple observation: local companies are still insufficiently integrated into the value chains of the mining sector. As a bank committed to development, we have designed this program of excellence to equip, structure, and finance them. This is our way of concretely supporting the Malian law on local content, by transforming political will into practical solutions.
This program was announced in February 2025 at Mining Indaba. What message did you want to convey?
At Mining Indaba, AFG Holding wanted to affirm that African countries can no longer be satisfied with being mere providers of raw minerals: they must create conditions to upstream control value chains through national champions and downstream transform raw materials. The LCCP is our contribution to this ambition. It shows that banks can be transformational actors, not just fund managers. AFG Bank Mali is the first subsidiary of the Group to implement the program, and others will follow soon depending on the evolution of their regulatory framework and the structure of their natural resources.
What are the main features of the LCCP?
We have mobilized a fund of 100 billion CFA francs to support the deployment of the LCCP in Mali. This amount is not symbolic: it reflects our intention to act deeply, with means commensurate with the program’s ambitions. This fund covers lines of credit tailored to the needs of Malian SMEs in the mining sector, structured financing of CAPEX, and guarantee mechanisms to secure supplies. It is supported by robust financial engineering, led by our Mining Desk, and benefits from the support of the group to which AFG Bank Mali belongs. This framework allows us to offer tailored solutions, in synergy with our insurance division, to meet the specific needs of companies operating in the mining ecosystem. It is not just a one-stop shop; it is a structuring lever to bring forth strong, competitive, and sustainable national champions.
Who is the LCCP specifically targeting?
The LCCP targets Malian mining suppliers and subcontractors who are involved—or aspire to be involved—in the mining sector. This includes various fields such as logistics, construction, drilling, explosives, industrial maintenance, catering, security, or other support services. But beyond sectors, we mainly target companies with high potential that need structured support to reach a new level: formalization, skill enhancement, access to low-cost financing, and connection with mining operators. The program is designed to be inclusive, with tools adapted to the realities on the ground and a logic of progression. It is a gateway to a more equitable and dynamic mining ecosystem.
AFG Bank Mali is part of a group. How does this strengthen your capacity for action?
Our membership in a leading regional banking group, present in 13 countries in banking, insurance, and microfinance, allows us to mobilize expertise, guarantees, and synergies on a pan-African scale. This reinforces our strength, agility, and ability to support Malian companies, including in their regional expansion.
What synergies do you envisage with the insurance division?
They are essential. Our sister company AFG Assurances Mali helps secure operations, cover risks related to specific transactions, and offer products tailored to our clients’ overall needs. It is a lever of trust and fluidity in financing.
How have your teams contributed to the implementation of the LCCP?
I would like to commend the exemplary mobilization of all the teams at AFG Bank Mali. From the front office to legal, from marketing to credit, each has contributed to the project. This program is the result of collective work driven by a strong vision: to make the bank a driver of development and the emergence of a strong local economy.
In a word, what does the LCCP represent for AFG Bank Mali?
The LCCP embodies our long-term commitment to a more inclusive, competitive, and sovereign Malian economy. It is more than just a program: it is a dynamic, a true catalyst for the Malian banking sector, aimed at achieving the country’s strategic objectives of the local content law.
Through this initiative, we affirm that anything is possible when local talents are supported, structured, and valued. Local content is not a constraint—it is a strategic opportunity to build a fairer and more ambitious future.
