The Summit, which was attended by over 300 business and government leaders, was opened with a keynote address from Dr Zweli Mkhize, the Premier of the KwaZulu-Natal, in which he set out the vision and programmes for KZN and announced major agribusiness partnerships that the province has entered into with SABMiller and Nestlé. Investment leaders at the Summit called on governments and donors to invest more in agribusiness project preparation platforms in order to assist in building the pipeline of bankable agribusiness investment opportunities. Delegates also felt that more information needs to be shared on African agriculture as an investable asset class. Africa investor undertook to share the outcomes of the Summit, and a call for action on the recommendations, with its partners at the African Union, UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), NEPAD and the World Bank Group. Africa investor has also undertaken to create a dedicated section in its English and Chinese edition of its magazines, read by over 1 million business readers per annum, on agribusiness investment opportunities in Africa. In closing the Summit, Anton Scheepers, Managing Director of Agricultural & Industrial Marketing Company, emphasised the need for collaboration; "We must take the opportunities and projects, both here in South Africa and abroad, and begin to package them with the skill and expertise that is available, and [have] the willingness to work with investors and finance houses...These engagements are going to be pioneering efforts", he said. Commenting on the Summit, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Africa investor, Hubert Danso, said; "Africa investor is delighted to have hosted this essential event in partnership with the government of KwaZulu-Natal. The success of the one-on-one meetings facilitated by Africa investor demonstrates the increasing recognition by the agribusiness community of the need to increase investment into agribusiness projects across the continent." A special report on the Africa investor Agribusiness Investment Summit will appear in the November/December edition of The Africa investor Agribusiness Investment Summit was hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development. The Department demonstrated its strong dedication to the development of the agribusiness sector in the province, and continent-wide, through the Summit. Africa investor would also like to thank its partners: the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO); NEPAD Business Group; AGRIFICA, Farm Africa; the African Business Roundtable; and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation. Media Partners include Biofuels Digest; Tanzania Invest and 25 Degrees.
Africa investor (Ai), a leading international investment research and communications group, today announced that the Africa investor Agribusiness Investment Summit has resulted in a pledge from the agri-business investment community to assist in increasing support for agribusiness projects and to create partnerships that will improve access to global markets. Africa investor magazine. For more information, please contact Sally Huckle on +27 11 783 2341 or [email protected].
