On the farm in the Ségou region of Mali in Africa was a busy scene: green seedlings flutter in the wind; sugarcane is harvested by machine harvester; transport vehicles shuttle back and forth...This is the farm of N-Sukala SA and Sukala SA of Sinolight International Holdings which is a subsidiary of Sinolight.

In recent years, production and operation at N-Sukala SA and Sukala SA have been plagued by complicated factors from within and outside Mali. Sinolight attaches great importance to the development of the two sugar refineries. In Q1 of 2022, N-Sukala SA and Sukala SA successfully got off to a flying start. With efficacy and efficiency, it sold 90,216 tons of white sugar in 2021/2022 crushing season with cumulative sales amount of CFAfr37.667bn (about RMB￥400m), finishing 91.5% of the sales goal set for this crushing season and breaking the sales record in the past five years. 

Solving the bottlenecks of production and operation

Since the 1960s, China has been assisting the Republic of Mali in developing its national industry. Supported by the high-level governments of China and Mali, Sinolight and the Malian government have established two large joint venture enterprises to manufacture sugar, first Sukala SA and then N-Sukala SA. This project stands as Sinolight’s largest overseas industrial investment project to date.

So far, N-Sukala SA and Sukala SA have developed into the largest agricultural-industrial-commercial businesses in Mali, as well as the largest employers for local work force. As fine examples of Mali's national industry and Sino-Mali cooperation, the two refineries are honored as the shining pearl of the "Belt and Road" Initiative.

N-Sukala SA and Sukala SA have long been committed to solving the bottlenecks of production and operation in a scientific and sustainable manner.

(1)  In order to conduct delicacy management in agriculture, they innovated the internal contract responsibility system, conducted atlas analysis of sugarcane’s per unit area yield, strove to re-till and improve land for low-yield sugarcane, which increased the per unit area yield;

(2)  In order to respond to the shortage of planting labor force, they independently researched, developed, designed and manufactured the sugarcane planter which are repeatedly used for pilot farmland planting;

(3)  In order to operate safely and stably as well as to produce quality white sugar, they independently and innovatively upgraded technologies in key plants, thus reducing costs and increasing productivity;

(4)  In order to pursue a high-price business model, they set up sales team, sought flexible sales channels, built a white sugar sales system and adopted a cash advance mode;

(5)  In order to ensure the health, safety and better lives of the employees, N-Sukala SA and Sukala SA reclaimed thousands of acres of fertile farmland to achieve self-sufficiency, and increased recreational and fitness facilities to enrich employees’ cultural and sports life. Also, they responded to Covid-19 while ensuring production and operation.

Actively fulfilling the social responsibilities

While developing businesses, N-Sukala SA and Sukala SA have always prioritized the local people and actively fulfilled the social responsibilities. They have done a lot to improve local infrastructure, education, health and health care, water and housing conditions, among other things, which received universal praises from local people and effectively enhanced corporate influence and reputation in the region.

Together with Sinolight International Holdings, Sukala SA once donated CFAfr415m to Women and Children's Foundation of Mali for the construction of new office buildings and auxiliary facilities, as well as CFAfr35m to the Sino-Mali Friendship Embroidery Training Center for teaching Malian women traditional Chinese hand-made embroidery, so as to earn them a job. It invested CFAfr20m in digging deep wells for local residents for free, and funded CFAfr3m for the water diversion projects which aimed at providing local residents with drinking and domestic water. N-Sukala SA and Sukala SA also provided free water and electricity to residents around the factory, and funded women and children's organizations, football organizations, etc.

Teaching traditional Chinese embroidery

Donating stationery to local children

Organizing football match in the region

In addition, N-Sukala SA and Sukala SA regularly maintained roads connecting villages, constructed swamp drainage channels for villages, donated supplies and equipment to local schools, as well as funded the construction of soccer fields. Meanwhile, they bought medical equipment for local hospitals and maternity clinics, donated diesel and alcohol for disinfection, helping pregnant women to move to maternal centers, provided equipment for the construction of mosques and churches, and planted trees to improve the local environment.

Organizing football match in the region

In addition, N-Sukala SA and Sukala SA regularly maintained roads connecting villages, constructed swamp drainage channels for villages, donated supplies and equipment to local schools, as well as funded the construction of soccer fields. Meanwhile, they bought medical equipment for local hospitals and maternity clinics, donated diesel and alcohol for disinfection, helping pregnant women to move to maternal centers, provided equipment for the construction of mosques and churches, and planted trees to improve the local environment.

Providing vehicles to transport supplies for victims after heavy rains

The achievements of N-Sukala SA and Sukala SA are attributable to the joint efforts of both China and Mali as well as the perseverance of the Chinese team working thousands of miles away from home. Sinolight will continue to "put stability first and seek progress while maintaining stability", promote N-Sukala SA and Sukala SA to coordinate Covid-19 response with production and operation, fulfill the mission of a central enterprise, and continue to contribute to Mali's social and economic development.