Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – December 11, 2024
On the margins of Africa Industrialization Week 2024, a landmark side event titled “Scaling Africa’s Agro-Industrialization through the Common African Agro-Parks (CAAPs): What Role for Green Investments?” brought together high-profile stakeholders to discuss Africa’s agro-industrialization agenda and the transformative role of green investments.
Organized by Afreximbank with the support of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the event underscored the strategic importance of the CAAPs initiative in advancing sustainable agro-industrial development. The initiative, closely aligned with Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), focuses on establishing agro-parks to enhance value addition, foster regional integration, and promote environmental sustainability.
Mr. Anselme Vodounhessi, Coordinator of CAAPs at FARA,
The event opened with remarks from Mr. Christian Ndikumagenge, a representative of Afreximbank, who emphasized the institution’s commitment to leveraging green financing for industrial growth across Africa. Mr. Anselme Vodounhessi, Coordinator of CAAPs at FARA, followed with an introduction to the initiative, highlighting its transformative potential in addressing food security, job creation, and economic resilience while integrating technologies and circular economy approaches to maximize resource efficiency.
Dr. Dejene Tezera, Director of the Department of Agri-Business at UNIDO
A dynamic panel discussion featured Dr. Dejene Tezera, Director of the Department of Agri-Business at UNIDO, alongside other distinguished experts. The panel explored innovative green financing mechanisms such as blended finance, green bonds, and sustainability bonds. Discussions also emphasized the critical role of policy alignment, technology integration, and public-private partnerships in operationalizing CAAPs zones effectively while leveraging green financing instruments to ensure long-term sustainability.
The event concluded with a compelling call to action, urging stakeholders to prioritize investment in agro-industrial zones, starting with the flagship Zambia-Zimbabwe and Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana corridors. Participants reaffirmed the potential of CAAPs to transform Africa’s agricultural sector into a globally competitive and sustainable economic driver, addressing critical challenges such as food security, unemployment, and environmental degradation.
For more information, please contact:
Anselme Vodounhessi – [email protected]
Benjamin Abugri – FARA – [email protected]
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