Somalia will hold a National Agri-Food Investment Summit (NAFIS) in the capital Mogadishu in early May to discuss oppprtunities in the country’s food and agriculture sector, the ministry of agriculture announced on Wednesday, April 9.
NAFIS will take place on May 5-6 under the theme of “unlocking investment opportunities to empower and transform Somalia’s agri-food sector for a sustainable and resilient future”, the ministry of agriculture said.
“The National Agri-Food Investment Summit (NAFIS) is a transformative program that enhances investment opportunities for entrepreneurs, local investors, and banks in Somalia’s agri-food systems and food production, in alignment with the National Transformation Plan (NTP),” it added.
“It facilitates access to finance, advanced technologies, and international markets.”
The ministry said senior government officials, Somali investors, farmers, researchers and representatives of local banks, universities and other academic institutions will attend the summit.
“We envision the National Agri-Food Investment Summit as a pivotal opportunity for Somali entrepreneurs, business communities, local investors, and banks to invest in the agri-food sectors and establish larger, more efficient food production companies,” agriculture minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir (Maareeye) was quoted as saying.
“Our goal is to transition from traditional farming, predominantly driven by rural communities and low-income households, to modern, sustainable, and smart farming plantations led by local investors and businesspeople in Somalia. The government of Somalia is committed to ensuring access to international markets and creating a conducive environment for growth.”
The summit was announced following a a pre-engagement meeting in Mogadishu.
