And… everything becomes possible!
The leading figures from banking, mining and the economic backbone of Mali gathered at the Radisson Collection on 27 October 2025 for a major event: the presentation of the Local Content Champion Program (LCCP) by AFG Bank Mali. Throughout the ceremony, a single slogan resonated: And… everything becomes possible.
In just four words, the bank—having recently completed its transformation—made a promise of possibility to an ambitious and demanding clientele. “A promise without effect is a fine tree without fruit,” said Axel Oxenstierna (a 17th-century Swedish statesman and advocate of results-based governance). A quotation that perfectly echoes the philosophy of the LCCP: turning intention into measurable impact. This idea neatly captures the spirit driving AFG Bank—acting concretely in the face of the structural challenges confronting African states in order to support responsible, transparent and sustainable growth.
In the face of these challenges, what role can financial institutions play?
The ceremony of 27 October reminds us that a bank can be an agent of national transformation—provided it aligns itself with public policy. In a context shaped by the major reform of local content, expectations of the banking sector were high. Banks were called upon to offer their mining-sector partners solutions that go beyond the traditional remit of financial institutions.
POINT FOCUS, which had already highlighted the innovation represented by AFG Bank Mali’s Mining Desk, felt compelled to analyse and unpack this new initiative: the Local Content Champion Program (LCCP). Presented as an ambitious programme aimed at strengthening the participation of local subcontractors and suppliers in mining value chains, the LCCP sits at the intersection of financing, capacity-building and the promotion of national champions.
Backed by an envelope of CFA 100 billion, the programme identifies, supports and accompanies high-potential companies by combining tailored financing, capacity enhancement and investment advisory services. The instruments on offer go well beyond conventional lending: leasing, factoring, guarantees, venture capital—levers designed to match the realities of local SMEs.
By dedicating a special issue to this initiative, POINT FOCUS seeks to provide readers with the analytical keys to an opportunity poised to transform the mining value chain. You will discover the details of the LCCP, as well as the points of convergence between this banking approach and the vision shared by the State and private-sector actors around local content.
For those who were not present in the sumptuous hall of the Radisson Collection, this issue offers the chance to relive— in detail—the highlights of a programme that could well redefine the role of the banking sector in Mali’s industrial development.
Baba Sakho
