GASELIA: Supporting a local player in the production of non-alcoholic beverages in West Africa

Gaselia is a West African family-run group specialized in the production of non-alcoholic soft drinks. The group was set up in 2002 in Mali and has gradually developed in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. It will soon be present in Guinea. Gaselia, which currently employs some 750 people, has diversified to cover the entire value chain, from the production of preforms (plastic bottles) and caps, to the production of carbon dioxide and, more recently, to the distribution of beverages.

PROPARCO’s EUR 11m loan will finance the group’s growth in the region. The investment program, for a total cost of EUR 35m, focuses on the construction of the new bottling site in Conakry (Guinea), as well as on the acquisition of additional production lines in Mali and Côte d’Ivoire. This new capacity will allow Gaselia to meet sharply growing local demand for non-alcoholic beverages. Proparco's EUR 11 m loan is part of a EUR 24 m financing, alongside the IFC (€13 m).

PROPARCO’s operation is supporting :

• The investments of a regional SME in the industrial base, particularly in least developed countries (LDCs) in French-speaking Africa. This will contribute to reducing the dependence of these economies on primary and mining sectors (particularly in Guinea), by promoting competitive and high-quality local production in the manufacturing sector;
• The creation of 200 direct technical and commercial jobs, in addition to indirect jobs for retailers in beverage distribution sectors, which are largely held by women (15%) from low-income groups of the population. 

In terms of indirect jobs, Gaselia works with 166 resellers.

PROPARCO’s operation also contributes to improving the environmental and social standards of a group which is sensitive to these issues. 

Finally, PROPARCO will play an advisory role in this operation by assisting Gaselia in the application of good corporate governance practices.