Rwanda to host Africa agribusiness forum

Rwanda will this year host a pan-African Agribusiness forum aimed at sharing best practices and investment opportunities among the country participants, the European Marketing Research Centre (EMRC), the event organiser, says. “We have chosen Rwanda because it is an example of significant economic growth and is doing a great job in business and fighting corruption,” Idit Miller, the EMRC managing director, said.The forum will draw about 40 African countries and delegates from other continents, including the Americas, Oceania, Europe and the Middle East.The four-day forum will take place within the first half of October and it is expected to attract 450 participants.The Minister of Agriculture, Dr Agnes Kalibata, said it will be an opportunity for Rwanda to showcase its achievements in agribusiness, reducing poverty, and ensuring food security.She said hosting the forum will help Rwanda link investment opportunities to different investors at the forum.Agribusiness in AfricaA fortnight ago, a new World Bank report, “Growing Africa: Unlocking the Potential of Agribusiness,” said Africa’s farmers and agribusinesses could create a trillion-dollar food market by 2030 if they can expand their access to more capital, electricity and better technology to grow high-value nutritious foods. The report called on governments to work side-by-side with agribusinesses, to link farmers with consumers in an increasingly urbanised Africa.“The time has come for making African agriculture and agribusiness a catalyst for ending poverty,” said Makhtar Diop, the World Bank vice-president for Africa Region. “We can’t overstate the importance of agriculture to Africa’s determination to maintain and boost its growth rates, create more jobs and significantly reduce poverty.”The report said agriculture and agribusiness should be at the top of development and business agenda in sub-Saharan Africa. It also recommended strong leadership and commitment from both public and private sectors. For success, the report said, engaging strategic investors is critical, as is the need for strengthening safeguards, land administration systems, and screening investments for sustainable growth.

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Rwanda to host Africa agribusiness forum