Press Release

African private sector discusses CAADP implementation for agricultural growth

Lusaka-Zambia, October 7, 2013 –As part of the ongoing Sustaining the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) momentum initiative, the African Union Commission in collaboration with the NEPAD Agency convened a stakeholder meeting for the private sector in Africa.

The aim of the two day meeting is to build consensus on the requirements for strengthening Africa’s domestic private sector to respond to the investment opportunities in sustaining the CAADP momentum.

The meeting falls within the continued CAADP implementation support to public sector institutions and processes in transformative aspects including strengthening capability in planning, policy design as well as monitoring and accountability systems. Consequently, the meeting aims to facilitate the desired support to domestic private sector to strengthen and catalyse the growth of an able, profitable and competitive agro-industry on the continent

Representing the AUC and the NEPAD Agency during the opening of the meeting, Head of CAADP at NEPAD Agency, Mr. Martin Bwalya, assured the participants that the AUC and NEPAD Agency are committed to supporting the private sector in their contribution and involvement in advancing CAADP implementation.
He encouraged the meeting to put forward their proposals on how they would like to engage the AUC and NEPAD Agency based on the last 10 years of CAADP implementation.
At the end of the meeting, a communiqué will be issued showing clearly defined and implementable work streams meant to increase opportunities and to create an enabling environment for the growth of Africa’s agricultural-based domestic private sector.

For further information please contact:
Mr. Komla Bissi
AUC CAADP Advisor
Bissik@africa-union.org

Ms Carol Jilombo
AUC CAADP Communications Officer
Jilomboc@africa-union.org