Nigeria Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones initiative to be launched today
The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, jointly with the African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development will launch the Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) initiative for Nigeria on 24 and 25 October 2022.
The launch in the federal capital, Abuja, will herald the implementation of SAPZ phase 1, and sends a strong message about Nigeria’s commitment to significantly transform its agriculture sector, create jobs, achieve food security, and generate economic revenue.
The first phase of the Nigeria SAPZ program is co-financed by key development partners to the tune of $538.05 million. The African Development Bank is providing $210 million. The Islamic Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development will provide combined funding of $310 million. The government of Nigeria is contributing $18.05 million.
The two-day event will bring together government officials, implementing partners, potential investors, farmers, agripreneurs, members of the diplomatic corps, and the development community.
The event will feature the following:
- Day1 (October 24): SAPZ launch
- Day 2 (October 25): Partnerships and interaction with strategic investors
The Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones will feature world-class facilities capable of attracting global investment, particularly, private sector interest, and driving a market-oriented agricultural transformation that will boost agro-processing capacity across Africa.
COLUMNS.
[Column] Nelson Maina: Placing Kenyan agriculture agenda in national discourse
Agriculture, unfortunately takes the brunt on election years in Kenya as political campaigns disrupt labour ...read full column here
[Column] Monica Parker: Why Kenya's potato sector is letting down smallholders and consumers alike
But farmers could be benefitting from improved incomes from high-value buyers if they had better market links and access ...read full column here
[Column] Agnes Kalibata: Why the world’s biggest agribusiness player needs more support to tackle climate change
With operations in every corner of the world, they produce as much as $1.5 trillion worth of food, fuel and timber every year ...read full column here
INTERVIEWS.
[Interview] Claudia Castellanos, CEO, Black Mamba, Eswatini
Claudia Castellanos is the Co-Founder and CEO of Black Mamba, an Eswatini-based brand that manufactures and distributes specialty food products such as chilli sauces, pestos, chutneys and jams among others … read full interview here.
[Interview] Stephen Oehley, CEO, Xtendevent, South Africa
Stephen Oehley is the CEO of Xtendevent, an infrastructure for organising trade shows, digital expositions and corporate events … read full interview here.
[Interview] Nixon Mrinji, Agric-Services Manager, Mtibwa Sugar Estate, Tanzania
Mtibwa Sugar Estate is a Tanzania-based company involved in the growing and production of sugar and related products … read the full interview here