Ethiopia Hosts Grow Africa Investment Forum
By Staff Writer
ADDIS ABABA-- African Union Commission, World Economic Forum and the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency have organized a two day forum on May 9, 2012 to showcase specific investment priorities in seven countries participating in the Grow Africa Partnership. The forum will take place at the African Union Commission, New Conference Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The event aims to catalyze new partnerships, investment commitments, and insights among participants who are committed to developing African agriculture to contribute to food security, environmental sustainability and economic opportunity on the continent.
Seven country delegations will each engage with private sector leaders in order to raise awareness among domestic, regional and international investors about the attractiveness of Africa’s agribusiness sector. They will also create investor interest in the priority agribusiness value chains of participating countries and stimulate investment in at least three immediate investment opportunities in each country’s selected value chains
Grow Africa builds upon the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programmee (CAADP) Africa’s strategy to boost agricultural productivity. It introduces transformative change in African agriculture based on national agricultural priorities and in support of CAADP. The AUC is keen to heighten this engagement towards concrete contribution to the advancement of the CAADP agenda.
In attendance will be over 200 high-level leaders of global, regional and national business, African and other governments, international organisations, civil society and farmers’ organisations. Private-sector representatives will be drawn from a wide range of industries including agriculture, food and beverage, retail & consumer, financial services, IT and telecom, and infrastructure.
Grow Africa exists to accelerate investments into African agriculture, and ensure that these deliver on their promise of sustainable and inclusive growth. It connects governments, businesses, investors, farmers and development partners, in order to advance ambitious agricultural partnership initiatives. By acting in concert, such partners can reduce risk, overcome market barriers, and achieve transformational change. Grow Africa also catalyses dynamic leadership commitment to drive this effort, with active patronage by Heads of State, Heads of International and African Agencies, and CEOs of leading African and international firms.