GERMAN-AFRICAN AGRIBUSINESS FORUM

As official sponsor, AFC participated in the ninth German-African Agribusiness Forum (GAAF) held on January 23, 2023 in Berlin Germany and organised by the Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft (German-African Business Association) and the German Agribusiness Alliance. Over 200 participants from 32 countries discussed the latest agribusiness developments. Our GOPA Consulting Group’s CEO and Vice Chairman of the Afrika-Verein Dr Martin Gueldner opened the event.

This year, the GAAF focused on "The Path to Food Sovereignty –Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture for Africa". Our economic system is significantly based on investment. Both public and private sector investments are necessary to provide the needed capital to support farmers as well as food processors. But for now, access to finance can still be difficult in large parts of the African continent.

How can access to financing be made easier and what changes need to be undertaken to make finance better accessible for everyone were the leading questions of the panel on financing Africa’s agriculture and how to encourage private sector investment moderated by AFC’s Managing Director. Johannes Buschmeier talked with Hon. Dr Lou Obup Opiew (Commissioner for Investment at Regional Government of Gambella Region, Ethiopia), Yosuke Kotsuji (Head of Africa Agribusiness at International Finance Corporation, Kenya), Frank Nordmann (General Manager Key Accounts and Sustainable Development at Grimme Landmaschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG, Germany) and Abah Ofon (Senior Manager Export Development Advisory at African Export-Import Bank, Egypt) about finding the right funding for agribusiness projects of both large companies, public private partnerships and smaller businesses and start-ups.

Yosuke Kotsuji explained the role of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Africa and how cooperation between public and private investment works. He mentioned the effects of the latest global crises, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian war against Ukraine on food chains and underlined the need for further investments. Johannes Buschmeier discussed with him about the regions in Africa favourable for selected private investments. As IFC has been quite active in various regions of Africa, high-level political decision makers from the auditorium showed interest and asked about IFC’s criteria enabling for investments.

Abah Ofon from the African Export-Import Bank in Egypt presented financial products to support trade activities within Africa and with Europe under the ongoing challenges of the current war against Ukraine.

The Investment Commissioner Dr Lou Obup Opiew of the Gambella Regional Government, invited investors to benefit from government programmes that include tax audits in specific regions of Ethiopia. The contributions of the panellists and the international high-level audience brought new approaches and food for thoughts. Discussions continued after the official closing of the session. We look forward to the next German-African Agribusiness Forum organised by the Afrika-Verein!

Daniela Böhm Senior Consultant