Annual Agric Business Trade Show & Conference

Abuja, Nigeria. This timely Trade Show is expected to have in attendance about 900 International Conference Delegates, Exhibitors and Visitors from the United Nation Agencies, USA, AU, China, Donor Agencies and Nigeria’s Federal/State Government Ministries and Parastatals. The event to be declared open by President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday, 26th August, 2014 will undoubtedly create the desired enabling environment for key players in the agricultural sector around the globe to synergize on policies, technologies and innovations with the aim of accelerating the pace of agricultural progress in Africa. Presently, the Nation’s macroeconomic indicators are showing a 0.43% decline in Gross Domestic Product due to the slow development of other sectors, especially the Agricultural sub sector. However, with its huge population, the country is the largest consumer of imported Rice in Africa. Presently, Nigeria is also the largest producer of almost every major agricultural product and has the largest market for agricultural commodities in West Africa. Given the significance of the Nigerian economy in West Africa – with approximately 60 percent of the population and over 50 percent of regional gross domestic product (GDP) – it is important in the context of regional initiatives to understand the country’s role in regional food security (World Bank, 2006). There is no doubt therefore that, Nigeria is the leading country with the greatest potentials in West Africa with increased integration, making the country viable in no small way to improve food security in the region. In line with the great potentials in agricbusiness, banks are now prepared to invest in Agriculture. The Nigerian Export-Import (NEXIM) bank has introduced a Special Fund for cassava export. The United Bank for Africa, on its part is one of the largest Financiers of Agricultural projects in the country; financing activities across the value chain from production to storage, processing, transportation and distribution. The Annual AgricBusiness Tradeshow & Conference will serve as the platform to discuss the potential and viability of the Agricultural business in Nigeria and the West African sub region. The event seeks to symbolize the opportunities in the Agribusiness, as well as synergize on technologies, techniques and human resources to take this all important sector to the level of the African Union food security initiative. We are therefore, sincerely inviting all stakeholders in this sector to share and participate in this conference.