The AgriBusiness Forum 2015 was held for the first time in Kinshasa, DRC, sub-Saharan Africa’s second largest urban centre. It brought together many of the key players and decision-makers in African agriculture, as well as an impressive number of small producers from all parts of the continent.
Holding the event in the DRC was of major significance, and a fitting recognition that this country has perhaps the biggest potential for agribusiness development. In fact, with 80 million hectares of arable land available, its water resources and workforce, it could potentially feed 3 billion people.
Parallel to the discussions on agricultural research, agric financing and business, the forum provided a platform for a public-private dialogue, initiated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). UNDP campaigned for the establishment of favourable conditions for the development of win-win relationships between large multinationals and the hundred representatives of local producers, but also for a strong commitment of stakeholders to make agriculture an important lever for the transformation of Africa.
This aspiration is contained in the Kinshasa Declaration through which the participants called for the adoption of strong and concrete commitments towards small farmers and all those working around them.
Over 600 delegates from all over the continent, as well as Europe, Asia and America attended the event. Twenty exhibition stands showcased local and regional products such as coffee, honey, tea, as well as agricultural equipment. Kinshasa was also the venue of over 1.200 B2B meetings, many of which have already translated, others will soon translate, into more investment, increased agricultural production, employment opportunities and economic growth across the continent.
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