African agri projects on show

The African Agri Council, a network of global executives, decision-makers and key stakeholders in Africa’s agricultural industry, will be presenting more than US$600 million worth of agricultural projects in Cape Town in November.

The council, in partnership with Wesgro and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, is hosting the African Agri Investment Indaba (AAII), on November 28-30.

The event includes “investment discovery matchmaking” sessions, where project owners will get the opportunity to pitch a robust panel of investors.

Over 30 projects have already been submitted from 10 African countries covering a range of sectors including technology, poultry, aquaculture, meat and livestock, fisheries and agro processing.

“The database of projects will appeal to a broad range of investors who are looking at getting the double-digit returns that the African agri sector has to offer … half of the projects we’ve found thus far are greenfield and half focus on expansion and existing projects…with 30 projects already in we expect this number to exceed our 100 project target by November,” says Ben Leyka, the council’s executive director.

Finance and investment companies already on board include Acorn Private Equity, Thebe Investment Corporation, 1K1V, JIC Holdings, Agri Vie Investments, Octopus Investments, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Scibus Investments, Old Mutual Investment Group, Signature Agri Ventures, Camscorp, FNB and Deutsche Bank.

“We are building a platform where delegates can do more to accelerate investment into this sector,” says Leyka.

For more information go to www.agri-indaba.com