High-Level Conference on the Development of Agribusiness and Agro-industries in Africa
Abuja, Nigeria

In April 2008, FAO, UNIDO, IFAD and the Government of India organized the Global Agro-Industries Forum (GAIF), with a view to raise awareness, exchange information, consider strategies and promote partnerships for future action towards the development of competitive agro-industries. Over 500 senior-level participants, including representatives from 44 African countries, participated in the event.

As a follow-up to the commitments made by the UN agencies during GAIF, and given the food security threats resulting from rapidly changing food prices and the international financial crisis, UNIDO, FAO and IFAD have identified the need to convene a High-Level Conference on Development of Agribusiness and Agro-Industries in Africa (HLCD-3A) , with the support of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which will host the event in Abuja, and in collaboration with the African Union (AU) , the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Furthermore the grounds for the conference stems from the tremendous momentum created for agricultural sector development in Africa in conjunction with the recent political commitments resulting from:

• The recognition of the need to respond to the food prices crisis and avoid future crises
• Additional political commitment to removing barriers to intra-regional trade and to building competitive food supply systems to replace imports
• A widespread recognition at continental, regional and national levels that investments being made to improve primary production must go hand in hand with efforts to improve services, increase value addition, and address constraints on moving food to urban and regional markets
• A growing capacity at continental and regional level to guide and undertake concerted action to address such an important challenge
• The need to increase financial flows from both private and public sectors into the agriculture in Africa, as Agro-industries and Agribusinesses are profitable vectors through which additional resources from the domestic financial systems can be channeled to the agricultural sector.

The HLCD-3A will convene African Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers and senior policy makers, as well as senior representatives of financial institutions. Invitees will consider and endorse specific commitments to enhance the role of agribusiness and agro-industries in promoting food security, employment generation and sustainable economic growth in Africa.

In pursuance of the African Union´s vision, as set out in the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)- in particular its Pilar II-, the Conference will promote sustainable agribusiness and agro-industrial development which would in turn generate employment in rural and urban areas in Africa. The event is being convened to bring to the forefront solutions to Africa´s food and agricultural problems using appropriate and up-to-date strategies and approaches.

More detailed information are available on the conference website at : www.hlcd3a.org