Agribusiness Investors Forum for Africa

01st July 2017
by secretary

Paepard

1 July 2017. Rome. The External Investment Plan and the new opportunities it offers for sustainable investment in agriculture and agribusiness.

This meeting was focused on private investors in African agriculture. The increasing alignment of interests between development assistance (concerned with poverty reduction, nutrition improvements, or job creation) and private investors in agriculture (in search of profit) presents valuable opportunities for cooperation in sustainable agricultural investment. This high-level forum seeks to accelerate such cooperation.

The Commission has proposed the European Investment Plan (EIP) in order to kickstart such blended investment, by offering guarantees, and other blending tools, to prospective investors. In parallel to greater funding, there will be accompanying efforts to support the preparation of sound investment proposals though technical assistance, as well as a more structured approach to improve the investment climate in the beneficiary countries, in order to improve the likelihood of investment succeeding. Blended finance in the agricultural sector requires a dedicated discussion, and the Commission seeks to launch this discussion by opening the forum with a presentation of the EIP. Access to EU

Leonard Mizzi, Head of Unit,
Rural Development, Directorate
General for International
Cooperation and Development,
European Commission

funding is through Development Finance Institutions, who act as lead promoter of investment proposals to blend EU development funds with private investments.

The Forum brought together those who are willing and interested in investing in African agriculture – major European and African companies – as well as those providing the financing to make these investments possible – the financing institutions in both the public and private sector. This represents a key target group for the success of the EIP.

Keynote address on agricultural investment finance Gilbert Houngbo, President of IFAD 15h35-

Panel discussion: The External Investment Plan and the new opportunities it offers for sustainable investment in agriculture and agri-business.

Bernard Giraud, President and Co-Founder of Livelihoods Fund
Nanno Kleiterp, Chair of European Development Finance Institutions
Walter Odongo Ogwal, GroFin East Africa Regional Investment Director
Jean-Luc François, Head of the Agriculture, Rural Development and Biodiversity Division, Agence Française de Développement
Ann Tutwiler, Director General of Bioversity International

Source: PAEPARD FEED

Agribusiness Investors Forum for Africa

Share

You might also like