encouraging sustainable, responsible cocoa growing

Entry: Bill Guyton

World Cocoa Foundation has been a member of the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) for several years. This June, CCA is hosting an Africa Agribusiness Forum in Chicago which will bring together the private sector, development agencies, host governments and non-government organizations. Below is a description of the event:

Africa Agribusiness Forum in Chicago: June 26-27, 2008

As Africa takes center-stage among global emerging markets, agriculture and agribusiness are among the most promising and profitable sectors for investors from around the world.

According to the World Bank, up to 80 percent of Africa’s labor force is engaged in agriculture and agribusiness-related enterprises accounted for more than $206.7 billion -- more than a third of the continent’s total GDP -- in 2006-2007.

The 2008 U.S. – Africa Agribusiness Forum will take place in Chicago about six weeks from now. We are pleased with the positive response we are receiving from you and other key players in the agriculture and agribusiness-related industries. The buzz around the event continues to grow as prospective attendees learn of U.S. corporations and industry leaders from the U.S. and Africa that are supporting and will be participating in the forum.

Here is a snapshot of some of industry leaders who have thus far confirmed for the 2008 U.S. – Africa Agribusiness Forum:

Ø CHARLES P. CAREY, vice chairman of CME Group, the world’s largest and most diverse derivatives exchange and leading agricultural commodities market, will deliver the opening keynote address. Mr. Carey will focus on the current state of world agriculture markets, as well as the role of commodity exchanges in economic growth and investment. CME Group is the combined entity formed by the 2007 merger of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Chicago Board of Trade and is a sponsor of the event.

Ø Many African countries are increasing investment in agriculture-friendly infrastructure such as roads, cold storage chains and cell phone transmitters. AMBASSADOR JOHN J. DANILOVICH, chief executive officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and MARK TOMLINSON, director of Regional Integration at the WORLD BANK, will address attendees during the “Infrastructure Networks: New Investments to Build Markets” plenary session. MCC is a U.S. government corporation designed to work with developing countries on the principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces good governance, economic freedom, investments in people and promotes economic growth.

Ø JOHN BYERLY, director of Finance and Sourcing for Africa of CHIQUITA BRANDS, INC., and EDMUNDO L. GARCIA, president and managing director of FIRESTONE NATURAL RUBBER, will be featured speakers on the “U.S. Agribusiness Operations in Africa—Improving Supply Risk Management” workshop panel. Headquartered in Cincinnati and with more than 26,000 employees and operation on six contents, Chiquita is a leading international marketer and distributor of many fresh and processed food products. The company grows bananas and other products in the Ivory Coast and other nations around the globe and owns power plants, warehouses, irrigation systems, and wharves. The Chiquita and Firestone panelists will be joined by others to discuss public-private partnership opportunities and the role of Africa operations investment in reducing supply-risk in business.

Ø Enhancing trade and investment in Africa’s Regional Economic Communities will be a primary focus at the forum. International Food Policy Research Institute Senior Research Advisor DR. OUSMANE BADIANE, lead of CAADP Pillar 2 “Improving Rural Infrastructure & Trade-related Capacities for Market Access” BABA DIOUM, USAID Senior Commercial Law Reform Advisor CHARLES SCHWARTZ, and other panelists will address the investment advantages of a regional approach to investment, highlighting the benefit of combined economies and a larger consumer base during the “Africa’s Regional Economic Communities: Larger Markets for Investment” workshop. This workshop is sponsored by USAID.

Other event sponsors include the Novus International, Inc.; Buchanan Renewables; Schaffer Global Group; Illovo Sugar; World Cocoa Foundation; All Africa Global Media; Watt Publishing; African Business; African Decisions; and Corporate Africa.

Visit the CCA website at www.africacncl.org for weekly updates regarding featured speakers, panelists and sponsors, or send an email to agribizforum@africacncl.org if you have questions.

--The Corporate Council on Africa