*25th September 2013.
Mombasa
, Kenya*. Over 250 top leaders from Africa including business executives
from the private sector, including farmers, traders and millers,
non-governmental organizations, development partners, financial
institutions, researcher government representatives, regional bilateral
institutions, and policymakers will convene from the 1st – 3rd October 2013
to discuss key issues affecting the African grain sector. This will be at
the 5th Africa Grain Trade Summit, hosted by the Eastern Africa Grain
Council (EAGC) at the Sarova-Whitesands Hotel, Mombasa, Kenya. The Summit’s
theme is*“Africa: The Emerging Frontier for Global Investments in Grain
Trade.”*
The summit is timely as global focus shifts to Africa’s potential to feed
itself and feed the world. Africa with an estimated population of 1 billion
people and an area of 30.2 million km² is home to seven of the world’s 10
fastest growing economies with a projected economic growth rate of 6%.
Additionally, the continent has a youthful population, a rich resource
base, rising incomes and a steadily growing private sector: all these
factors make for a healthy and attractive investment environment.****
At this year’s summit, delegates will focus on advocating for a predictable
agricultural trade policy and price environment which facilitates public
private partnerships and stimulate increased investments along the grain
value chain. Additionally, opportunities for innovation and technology
adoption to address constraints and increase agricultural investments in
Africa will be explored as will means of optimizing intra-Africa market
access by dismantling barriers to trade. Delegates will also discuss how to
scale up agribusiness financing for Africa’s grain trade through Structured
Trading Systems.****
“The summit will be setting the stage and opening doors through
establishing essential linkages and new and increased investments in grain
trade in Africa,” says the EAGC Executive Director, Mr. Gerald Masila.****
“AGRA is happy to be associated with the Africa Grain Summit as it will
help in charting the way forward on resolving the issue on postharvest
grain losses which are currently at 40% in sub-Saharan Africa. By stemming
these losses we can help to increase farmers’ incomes,” says Mrs Anne
Mbaabu, Director of AGRA’s Market Access Program.****
During the summit, the first ever Structured Trading Systems Handbook will
be launched and is envisioned as being a game-changing tool in grain trade
in Africa and beyond.****
This year’s Summit has received support from the Alliance for Green
Revolution in Agriculture (AGRA), the Swedish International Development
Agency (SIDA), the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID), the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU
(CTA), the Agribusiness Initiative Trust (ABI), the Association for
Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa
(ASARECA), The East Africa Trade Hub (formerly known as USAID COMPETE),
CARANA Corporation, Seaboard Overseas and Trading Group, Tradiverse Kenya
Limited, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Bunge East Africa
Limited, Capital Reef Kenya Limited, the East Africa Breweries Limited,
Cimbria East Africa, Intertek Commodities Ltd, Lesiolo Grain Handlers
Limited, Cereal Growers Association, Mama Millers Ltd, Post-Harvest
Services Limited, Farm Concern International, Uplands Rice Millers and the
recently established East Africa Exchange (EAX) based in Kigali, Rwanda.****
*ENDS*
* *
*About Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC)*
The Eastern Africa Grain Council is a regional organization with membership
drawn from across the Eastern and Southern Africa. Members of the Council
cut across the Grain value chain and include all the key players in
production, trade and processing in nine (9) countries across Africa
including Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, South
Sudan, and Ethiopia. ****
Some of our key services include warehouse receipting systems, market
intelligence systems and evidence-based policy advocacy for an enabling
policy environment. The Council works very closely with governments in the
region, regional economic blocs like the EAC, COMESA and SADC and also
development partners to address the various challenges in food security.