From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)
PRESS RELEASE

Africa grain experts to explore the continent’s potential as the next frontier in global grain supply at 5th African Grain Summit

MOMBASA, Kenya, September 30, 2013/ — 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) (http://www.eagc.org) at the Sarova-Whitesands Hotel, Mombasa, Kenya. The Summit’s theme is “Africa: The Emerging Frontier for Global Investments in Grain Trade.”

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/eagc.jpg

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.

Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of Alliance for the Eastern Africa Grain Council – EAGC.

For more information on the summit please contact;
Janet Ngombalu
Regional Manager, Marketing Information Systems and Communications
Eastern Africa Grain Council – EAGC
Tel: +254 712 733418 or +254 737 804104
Email: jngombalu@eagc.org, africagraintradesummit2013@eagc.org

About Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC)

The Eastern Africa Grain Council (http://www.eagc.org) 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.

http://www.eagc.org – http://www.ratin.net – http://www.graintradesummit.com

About the 5th Africa Grain Trade Summit

The Africa Grain Trade Summit is a premier biennial premier international event organized by the East Africa Grain Council and brings together key grain industry stakeholders over 25 African countries, and both regional and global organizations.

SOURCE
Eastern Africa Grain Council – EAGC