EMRC AgriBusiness Forum 2008 debates practical solutions for Africa in facing rising commodity prices and food scarcity
Brussels, Belgium – The EMRC AgriBusiness Forum will take place from 18-20 June at the FAO headquarters in Rome. Franz Fischler, former EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, will open the event with a speech on the EU’s role in guranteeing global food security . Throughout its three-day programme the event will gather agribusiness leaders from more than 25 countries and four continents to showcase business opportunities in Africa’s agribusiness. Among the top-level participants of this year’s edition will be personalities such as Monty Jones, developer of NERICA (New Rice for Africa), who was ranked among the “100 most influential people in the World” by the Time Magazine in 2007, and Youssou N’Dour, the Founder of the Birima Microfinance Institute in Senegal. At the Forum’s gala evening, EMRC as initiator and organizer of the event will announce the annual EMRC AgriBusiness Awardees for outstanding leadership and business successes.
Programme Details:
Held from 18-20 June, the EMRC AgriBusiness Forum 2008 will feature the following discussion topics:
Session I: Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP) in Agriculture as Platform for Growth and Wealth
Session II: Investing and Financing African Agro-Food-Industry
Session III: Adding Value to Agricultural Products
Session IV: Alternative Partnerships for Rural Development
Parallel Workshops: Innovative Projects to boost Agribusiness
Among the keynote speakers:
Franz Fischler, former EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Austria
Monty Jones, Secretary General at FARA (Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa), Ghana
Doyle Baker, Chief of Agricultural Management, Marketing & Financial Service, FAO, Italy
Kevin Cleaver, Assistant President, IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development), Italy
Youssou N’Dour, Performer and Founder of the Birima Microfinance Institute, Senegal
Moochikal Ramesh, President & Regional Head S&E Africa – Olam International, South Africa
Nick Blazquez, Managing Director, Diageo Africa, UK
Thomas de Man, President – Heineken Africa and the ME, The Netherlands
The three day programme will pay particular attention to one-to-one business meetings. A key moment will furthermore be dedicated to the announcement of the EMRC AgriBusiness Awardees 2008 for outstanding business successes and leadership. More detailed information is available on the website www.emrc.be .
About EMRC:
Established in 1992 in Brussels, Belgium, EMRC is an international association composed of a vast network of entrepreneurs, financiers, consultants and officials coming from some 100 countries. EMRC’s core activity is the organisation of business events, economic missions and targeted business-development services. These activities are focused on supporting new global trends to achieve sustainability in Africa’s private sector.
Event: EMRC AgriBusiness Forum 2008
Location: Rome, Italy, 18-20 June
Organiser: EMRC International
