(3 minutes read)
The EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce is convening a pivotal high-level forum aimed at bridging Africa’s agribusiness financing gap and advancing the continent’s journey toward food security. Taking place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire today, the forum will bring together a diverse network of stakeholders under the theme: “Mobilising Capital for Sustainable Agriculture.”
Set against the backdrop of a USD 65 billion agribusiness financing deficit and mounting concerns over food insecurity, the event seeks to catalyse action across the public and private sectors. It will convene a strategic mix of policymakers, development finance institutions (DFIs), international and African investors, agribusiness leaders, startups, and technical partners to discuss scalable financing solutions for Africa’s agricultural transformation.
Africa, despite its vast arable land and agrarian potential, currently imports over $50 billion worth of food annually. Structural challenges such as limited infrastructure, climate change, and restricted access to finance for smallholder farmers and agri-SMEs continue to hinder progress. This forum arrives at a crucial juncture, offering a platform to develop innovative and inclusive strategies to enhance local production, build resilient value chains, and reduce the continent’s reliance on food imports.
Key Features of the Forum:
- Panel Discussions: Interactive sessions will delve into critical themes such as climate-smart agriculture, digital innovation, financing agritech ecosystems, and the role of public-private collaboration in unlocking capital.
- Investment Showcases: Promising agribusiness ventures will present investment-ready projects to potential backers, demonstrating the strong business case for agriculture in Africa.
- Matchmaking Sessions: Facilitated networking will help forge partnerships between funders, entrepreneurs, and development partners, accelerating collaboration and resource mobilisation.
- Blended Finance and Innovation: Discussions will explore blended finance mechanisms, risk mitigation tools, and new financial instruments to make agribusiness more attractive to both commercial and impact investors.
This initiative is a clear manifestation of the EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce’s commitment to enhancing sustainable trade and investment links between Europe and Africa. Agribusiness is increasingly recognised as a cornerstone of inclusive economic growth, employment creation, and food system resilience on the continent.
By spotlighting the investment opportunities within African agriculture, the Chamber aims to galvanise commitment and unlock the capital needed to power a food-secure, self-sufficient, and prosperous future for Africa.
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The EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting sustainable economic partnerships between the European Union and African countries. Through strategic forums, advocacy, and business engagement, the Chamber works to foster inclusive growth, facilitate investment, and support priority sectors such as agribusiness, renewable energy, and digital innovation.
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