Wedoany.com Report-Dec.16, Sonoco Ltd. has obtained a 23 million U.S. dollar senior loan from Proparco, the private sector financing division of the French Development Agency (AFD), to fund the construction and initial working capital for Sierra Leone's first industrial-scale wheat flour mill and silo storage facility in Freetown.

The project features a flour mill with a daily processing capacity of 600 tonnes, capable of producing up to 140,000 tonnes annually. It also includes integrated silo storage for 40,000 tonnes of grain, facilitating consistent supply and improved grain management throughout the year.

This development introduces the country's inaugural large-scale flour milling operation. Sierra Leone, with a population of approximately 8.8 million, has previously relied entirely on imported wheat flour for domestic needs.

"This world-class wheat flour production unit will enable the country to have fresh and highly qualitative flour available every day. West African countries must increase their control of food value chains to ensure food security and prosperity. This is exactly what we are doing with this project," noted Sadio Dicko, Proparco's Regional Director for West Africa.

Sonoco Limited belongs to Groupe Sonoco, a diversified conglomerate based in West Africa with activities in Guinea and extending across industry, construction, and real estate sectors.

Once operational, the mill will position Sonoco as the leading flour producer in Sierra Leone, shifting its role from importer to primary domestic supplier and reshaping the national wheat-to-flour supply chain.

The facility is designed to meet local demand while also serving export markets, initially in neighboring Liberia and potentially expanding across the Mano River region.

The initiative addresses ongoing food security considerations in Sierra Leone, where a significant portion of the population faces challenges in consistent access to adequate nutrition. By processing grain locally, the project enhances value addition within the country, reduces dependence on international supplies, and creates opportunities in logistics, operations, and distribution.

The development aligns with efforts to build resilience in agricultural and food systems, supporting stable production and supply amid various external factors.

Additionally, the financing connects to broader regional programs promoting agricultural strength, including the Food and Agriculture Resilience (FARM) initiative introduced in 2022. FARM emphasizes improving production stability against climate and supply challenges. In 2025, related activities mobilized 14 million U.S. dollars in private funding for small-scale farmers in several African countries, contributing to a larger 200 million dollar framework assisting farmers, agribusinesses, and food-related enterprises.

This investment in modern milling infrastructure represents a practical step toward greater self-sufficiency in staple food processing, benefiting consumers through improved availability and supporting economic activity in related sectors.