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Who is organising the 1st Africa-Aran Agro-Investment Conference?
The event will be hosted by the Government of Zanzibar led by H.E. Dr. Amani Abeid Karume, President of Zanzibar. The event is organised by Europe SADC States Bridge (ESSB). The ESSB has kindly requested a limited number of organisations to act as partners in the margin of the 1st Africa-Arab Agro-Investment Conference. Furthermore, the conference is open for corporations to act as sponsors. 

Who will attend?
In total 250 participants are expected comprised of 5 target groups:
- Investors from the Arab World and Development Funds Institutions (The World Bank, IFC, African Investment Centers etc.)
- African Agriculture Organizations (African Agricultural Export Companies, Arab Agri- Import Companies, Farmers Associations, Agriculture Member Organizations, Agribusiness Women Organizations etc.)
- Policy Makers (African Ministers of Agriculture, Arab Ministers of Foreign Affairs)
- Agribusiness Companies (Manufacturers of Agro-Machineries, Fertilizers, Seeds, Crop Protection, etc.)
- Academia (Research Institutes, Universities, Research Partnership Organizations) 

How will the agenda be developed?
The ESSB will develop the detailed agenda with the cooperation partners following input from local and international private sector leaders, and from the Arabic World seeking investment opportunities in the agriculture sector in Africa. The Conference complements important recent initiatives within the SADC and East African countries to strengthen business government working relationships (Public Private Partnership). It will involve international private sector representatives and investors in order to unleash the potential of African countries to engage in agricultural exports facilitating a sustainable economic growth. 

What are the specific goals of the Conference?
The focus of the 1st Africa-Arab Agro-Investment Conference will be on investment in agriculture to respond to rising global food prices drawing on the untapped potential in Africa.  Agriculture is the mainstay of Africa, employing two-thirds of the continents 920 million people in a subsistence capacity. The conference will facilitate bilateral meetings between
leading government and business representatives in order to support a dialogue on establishing a strategy on agro-investments of Arab countries to Africa. The conference will draw on agricultural initiatives between the public and private sector and on paths to finance for development. 

What will be the main outcome of the Conference?
- Bilateral agro-investment strategy
- New export opportunities of African agriculture products to the Arab World
- New business relationships and business partners between both regions
- Funding for projects in the agricultural sector
- Increased awareness of importance to invest in agricultural sector
- The Zanzibar Declaration
Date
2009-09-27 - 2009-09-29