Anas Sefrioui Accelerates His Expansion in Africa: Cameroon at the Heart of CIMAF’s Industrial Strategy
Moroccan Businessman Anas Sefrioui Intensifies Expansion in Africa
Moroccan businessman Anas Sefrioui, renowned for founding the real estate group Addoha, is ramping up his expansion strategy across the African continent through his group CIMAF (Ciments de l’Afrique). This new direction indicates a significant redirection of investments towards Sub-Saharan Africa, viewed as an emerging market.
Currently operational in several African countries, CIMAF boasts a production capacity estimated at around 9 million tons per year, making it a key player in the cement sector on the continent.
Strategic Reorganization with a Withdrawal from Europe
As part of this new strategy, CIMAF has sold its last cement plant located in Saint-Pierre-la-Cour, France. This decision marks a significant turning point, reflecting a clear intention to focus industrial efforts on African markets.
This repositioning aims to bolster investments in high-growth areas where the demand for construction materials continues to rise significantly.
Massive Investments Across Multiple African Countries
According to available information, nearly $90 million, or about 850 million dirhams, will be injected into the expansion and modernization of the group’s industrial units.
These investments will target several countries including Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali, Guinea-Conakry, and Chad. The goal is to increase production capacities and meet a rapidly growing demand.
Cameroon: A Strategic Market for Cement
Among the targeted countries, Cameroon holds a particularly strategic position. The country is experiencing high demand for infrastructure, housing, and urban projects, making it an attractive market for cement manufacturers.
Rapid urbanization and the development of significant public works projects are enhancing the interest of both international and African groups in this expanding sector.
Growth Driven by the Transformation of the Continent
The dynamics of the African cement market are supported by strong structural trends. According to several estimates, cement consumption in Africa could double by 2035, rising from approximately 230 to 460 million tons per year.
This growth is driven by urbanization, infrastructure projects, social housing programs, and reconstruction needs in certain areas.
Increasingly Intense Industrial Competition
CIMAF’s expansion occurs in a highly competitive landscape marked by the presence of major international and African players. Among the competitors are Dangote Cement, Holcim, Heidelberg Materials, along with several actively engaged Chinese groups on the continent.
This situation has fostered a genuine industrial competition for the African cement markets.
A Continental Ambition for Industrial Growth
For Anas Sefrioui, this strategy transcends mere economic considerations. It fits into a broader vision aimed at positioning African capital as major players in the continent’s strategic industrial sectors.
In this context, Cameroon emerges as one of the key battlegrounds in this new economic landscape of Africa, expected to strengthen in the coming years.
