Business Enquirer Issue 110 | FAMY SN | February'23

BUILDING THE SENEGAL OF TOMORROW

FAMY SN

BUILDING THE SENEGAL OF TOMORROW

Established in France in 1860, FAMY’s historical footprint brings with it years of experience and knowledge in quarrying, earthworks and demolition activities.

Now its own entity, the construction firm has been present in Senegal since 2012, with a 130 strong team of industry experts, based across 7 sites.

With large scale projects on the books for FAMY SN and a turnover of 8 million CFA francs, it is clearly a partner of choice for construction projects in the country.

“Clients want to work with us because we have a wealth of experience and expertise. Our accomplishments in roads, mining and sanitation set us apart from the rest,” shared FAMY SN President, Jeannie Cointre.

A Slam Dunk

Leading the Senegalese operation is an entrepreneur who credits her unique background to her leadership style.

Starting her professional life as a basketball player, Jeannie went on to work in finance, taking on roles at Crédit Agricole, the European Centre for Nuclear Research, and investment boutique Westmount Capital. The latter business is where she built her relationship with and understanding of FAMY SN.

“My sporting background has helped to develop my taste for effort and self-sacrifice,” Jeannie explained, “it’s important for me to be supported by the team, my collaborators and mentors, and to have their confidence”.

WRITTEN BY: LAURA WATLING

Born out of the French company, FAMY S.A.S, FAMY SN is one of the major players in the Senegalese construction industry.

FAMY SN PROJECT

DIRECTED BY: JAMIE WAITE ARTICLE

She also noted the importance of allowing failures to become positives, with the ability and agility to bounce back.

“To quote Nelson Mandela, “I never lose, either I win or I learn”. That is critical for both myself and my colleagues to progress,” she shared.

Driving “-Isations”

Passionate about cybersecurity, Jeannie also sits on the Board of Directors of DigiVolution. The Swiss foundation has been established to support and strengthen businesses and institutions in anticipating and mastering the challenges of digital transformation.

It is appropriate then that Jeannie is driving both digitisation and feminisation of roles within FAMY SN.

“The construction industry is entering a period of digitisation and it is therefore opening up more opportunities for women in the construction sector,” explained Jeannie.

New opportunities include the analysis of data collected by drones, as well as the protection of such data, and the automation of repetitive tasks. Not only is this digital transformation opening up new roles, it is also adding value and making processes more efficient.

“The challenge we have now is training and integrating women into the sector. Showing them the opportunities and enabling them to aspire to a career in construction,” said Jeannie, “our ambition is to set up a Foundation and training programmes to facilitate this”.

Currently, FAMY SN is in conversation with the engineering department of Egletons (part of ESITC Paris) to create a training programme which combines both theoretical and practical knowledge.

Whilst digitisation is high on the agenda for FAMY SN, it recognises that digital technologies come with increased energy consumption. Therefore, appropriate strategies need to be implemented to combat a rise in carbon emissions.

“We want to support our partners in reducing their carbon impact throughout their production chains. This is an industry wide challenge, and so we believe companies will need to work together to create an alliance of best practice,” explained Jeannie.

Proposed measures include monitoring electronic waste, supporting recycling and reuse, the promotion of reconditioned equipment, and the reduction of inefficient applications.

FAMY SN President, Jeannie Cointre

Playing its Part

Jeannie was brought into the business during a change of FAMY SN’s governance, in response to reengagement of the diaspora on the African continent. Now, Jeannie and her team are on a mission to build the Senegal of tomorrow.

The business forecasts growth opportunities within the next few years in Sub-Saharan Africa. With the middleclass consumer market growing rapidly, FAMY SN foresees that infrastructure development will play a major role in this transformation.

“According to estimates by the African Development Bank, the continent’s infrastructure needs are between $130 and $170 billion per year,” explained Jeannie.

There are already plans for several, largescale projects within Senegal, such as the Train Express Regional (TER), an airport rail link connecting Senegal’s capital, Dakar, with the Blaise Diagne International Airport.

As well as this, there are opportunities for FAMY SN within the Saint Louis highway, the desalination plant, the Bus Rapid Transit and the Port of N’dayane.

Along with the growth which will come with the wider transformative plans in Senegal, FAMY SN has a vision to grow via strategic acquisition.

“The intention of these acquisitions will be to allow us to develop a more valuable offering for our clients, as well as developing transversal synergies,” said Jeannie.

Finishing up her conversation with Business Enquirier, Jeannie shared the ultimate goal:

“Be the change you want to see in the world”.

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