Agriculture investment conference targets private-sector funding
Namibia’s first Annual Agriculture Investment Conference and Expo seeks to attract greater private-sector investment into agriculture, with organisers setting a long-term target of between N$1 billion and N$10 billion a year in private funding for the sector.
The conference will take place on 19 and 20 October at the Windhoek International Conference Centre at the Mercure Hotel.
Organised by A to Z Events Management in association with the United Entrepreneurs Association of Namibia and Oshitayi Ventures, the event will focus on investment, food security, local production and opportunities across the agricultural value chain. The theme is “Consolidating and Unlocking Opportunities in the Agriculture Sector for Sustainable Food Security”.
Organisers said the conference aims to promote locally produced agricultural goods, encourage investment and participation in the sector, and reduce Namibia’s reliance on imported agricultural products.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has delegated Agriculture Minister Inge Zaamwani to deliver the keynote address on her behalf, according to the organisers.
Focus on investment
The conference will examine the funding gap in agriculture and ways of attracting more investment into the sector.
Other topics will include Namibia’s dependence on agricultural imports, the role of young people and women in agriculture, water security, the involvement of local and traditional authorities, and the role of financial institutions in agricultural development.
The conference will also consider ways to strengthen green schemes, improve employment opportunities in agriculture and position Namibia to become a net exporter of agricultural products over the next three to four decades.
Organisers said their long-term vision was to attract between N$1 billion and N$10 billion in private-sector funding annually over the next 36 years.
They estimate that increased investment could help reduce Namibia’s agricultural import bill by at least 50% and retain more money in the domestic economy. These are targets set by the organisers rather than guaranteed outcomes.
They said greater investment across the agricultural value chain could also create employment and improve livelihoods.
Investors and farmers
The conference is expected to bring together government institutions, farmers, financial institutions, investors, agricultural associations, academics, non-governmental organisations and agri-businesses.
The Agricultural Bank of Namibia, Namibian Agronomic Board, Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board and Government Institutions Pension Fund are among the institutions confirmed to participate, according to the organisers.
The event will also include project-pitching and presentation sessions aimed at connecting agricultural entrepreneurs with potential local and international investors.
Organisers said the sessions would give project promoters an opportunity to present their ideas to investors while gaining a better understanding of the requirements for investment-ready projects.
The programme will cover opportunities for established and emerging agricultural entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on initiatives involving women and young people.
For partnership, exhibition and sponsorship opportunities, the organisers can be contacted through the conference team at 0812300980.
