Date: 26 Jun, 2024
Location: Tunisia
By invitation from the Tunisian-African Business Council, the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development participated with a delegation led by His Excellency Dr. Obaid Saif Hamad Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Authority, in the events of the seventh edition of the International Conference on Financing Investment and Trade in Africa (FITA 2024) under the theme “Enhancing Local Industries and Technology Transfer for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Africa,” held from June 11-12, 2024, in Tunis, Tunisia.
The conference aimed to identify the components to enhance local transformation and technology transfer for sustainable and inclusive growth in Africa and to support investment in African countries by establishing partnerships between investment bodies and businesspersons to implement innovative projects that serve the economies of African countries. The Authority’s delegation participated in the conference’s opening session, dialogue sessions, and B2B partnership meetings, discussing several investment opportunities available in the agricultural production and manufacturing sector.
The conference was attended by more than 1,000 company executives from around 65 countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, and America, in addition to the participation of about 100 international financial institutions and representatives from African governments and institutions, as well as international financiers and private sector representatives.
AAAID’s delegation also participated in the 21st edition of the Tunisia Investment Forum (TIF), organized by the Ministry of Economy and Planning in partnership with the European Union under the theme “Tunisia: Where Sustainability Meets Opportunities.” The forum serves as a platform for establishing new partnerships, attracting investments, and showcasing Tunisia’s potential for investments in various sectors. The forum highlighted the potential of the Tunisian economy in innovation and sustainable investment.
During His Excellency the Chairman’s participation in the forum, fruitful meetings were held with several investors in the agricultural sector in Tunisia. The discussions focused on promising investment opportunities in which the Authority can contribute, such as the production and manufacturing of sugar beet, olive oil production, and fodder.
The AAAID participation aimed to promote available investment opportunities in Tunisia and Arab countries and to seek agricultural investment opportunities to contribute to them. The delegation participated in the forum’s opening session, dialogue sessions, and B2B partnership meetings, meeting with several local and international banks and investment entities interested in partnering with the Authority to finance agricultural projects in Tunisia specifically and in Arab countries generally.
During the visit to Tunisia, H.E. Chairman of the Board met with H.E. Feryel Ouerghi, Minister of Economy and Planning of Tunisia, and H.E. Abdelmonem Belati, Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries. The meetings discussed investment priorities in the agricultural sector in Tunisia, the impacts of climate change on the agricultural sector, the challenges small farmers face due to climate change, as well as the areas and projects where the Authority can contribute and the requirements to support the activities of the AAAID’s existing companies in Tunisia. It was agreed to maintain communication to explore promising and available investment opportunities for both parties.
His Excellency the Chairman also visited H.E. Dr. Eman Al Salami, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Tunisia, where he provided a comprehensive presentation on the Authority and its role in enhancing economic and investment cooperation among Arab member states to achieve Arab food security, in addition to highlighting the Authority’s investments in Tunisia.
In conclusion, His Excellency the Chairman visited the Mabrouka Seed Project, reviewing the progress of the project in which AAAID contributes. The visit focused on the role of the project in enhancing the agricultural sector and developing local production in Tunisia, with a particular emphasis on the advancement of the Mabrouka Seed Project.
