Soon, Africa will boast its own Agriculture Expo, which promises to attract the interest of major role-players along the entire agriculture value chain. Agri World Africa (AWA) aims to showcase agricultural products and promote trade & commerce between African countries as well as internationally.
Agriculture MEC Gerrit van Rensburg said he was very excited about the partnership and the potential it held for agricultural development on the continent, from Cape Town to the Sahara. "One partner hosts an extensive African footprint, together with a vast business network, while the other partner is an expert in agricultural services," he said, adding that the partnership holds the potential to transform the continent's agricultural investment landscape. Van Rensburg highlighted two crucial challenges facing SA - unemployment, which he termed "a social time bomb," and the need to restructure agriculture and land ownership in a peaceful way.
According to Weekend Argus, Van Rensburg said his department estimated that a 5% increase in agricultural exports would translate into 23 000 jobs, adding that While World Trade Centre estimates that a 1 percent increase in trade with the African continent would generate $17 billion. "This is three times the amount the continent receives in foreign aid, and 16 percent more than is needed to alleviate poverty on the continent," the MEC said.
Read the full article on www.iol.co.za.
