Africa's largest Agri Investment Indaba is now underway

The Indaba will facilitate the largest investment gathering of Africa’s agri-stakeholders: over 600 investors, agribusinesses and VIPs will pitch projects, discuss the future of Africa’s agribusiness sector and the potential of African agriculture to ‘feed the world’.

The programme features numerous experts who are delivering keynote addresses. They include:

• Hon. Senzeni Zokwana, Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, South Africa
  
• MEC Lebogang Maile, MEC, Gauteng Department of Economic, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, South Africa
  
• MEC Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities, Western Cape Government, South Africa
  
• Dr. Nigel Chanakira, Chairman, Zimbabwe Investment Authority, Zimbabwe
  
• Dr. John Mutunga, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya National Farmers Federation (KENAFF), Kenya
  
• Nhlanhla Nene, Resident Advisor, Thebe Investment Corporation and Non-Executive Board Member, Allan Gray, South Africa
  
• Dr John Purchase, Chief Executive Officer, Agricultural Business Chamber (AgBiz), South Africa

Hosted by the African Agri Council, and in partnership with Wesgro and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, a highlight of the event is the Investment Discovery Sessions, where agribusinesses are given the opportunity to pitch their pre-qualified projects to international investors.

Most of the projects are looking for between US$1m and US$50m in investment and have an established track record.

“We have been working closely with a number of leading African investment authorities, such as the National Agricultural Marketing Council, Wesgro, Department of Agriculture, the EU Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Investment authorities from Zambia and the DRC in order to gather a diverse grouping of bankable agri projects,” explains Ben Leyka, Executive Director, African Agri Council.

“Going forward we will continue to act as a platform for international investors and project owners, enabling and facilitating investment in African agriculture.”

A selection of projects will be presented to international investors including the Public Investment Corporation, specialised agri funds such as the Agri-Vie Fund and Scibus Investments Pty Ltd, the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO), Norsad Finance Limited, Scandinavia’s Swedfund and Deutsche Bank. The international panels will look for the best projects in primary agriculture, agri-processing and value-chain.

For more information please visit www.agri-indaba.com and www.agricouncil.org.