WWHC Investment matchmaking forum

The Investment Forum includes two different sections:

Presentation on “Ethiopia’s success story in attracting and retaining investments in its thriving agro-business sector”– led by the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC)
Investment pitching session

The issue:

Access to financial investment plays a pivotal role in transforming agro-food systems, boosting productivity, and fostering innovation in agriculture leading to increased food security. Without adequate financial support, smallholder farmers, agri-businesses, and food systems cannot adopt the necessary technologies, improve infrastructure, or expand operations to ensure a stable and sustainable food supply. Investments are essential not only for improving agricultural production but also for value chain development, storage and processing, supply chain efficiency, and the reduction of food waste.

Objectives:

The EIC’s kick-off presentation titled “Investing in Ethiopia’s agri-business sector presentation” will highlight the important role of government reforms, infrastructure development and investment facilitation services in attracting and retaining private sector investments, both domestic and foreign direct investments (FDI), in Ethiopia’s agro-business sector. This includes cotton production, livestock, poultry, production of fruits and vegetables, wheat, pulses, animal feed, and others. It will also showcase further food security-related investment opportunities in Ethiopia, many of which are showcased on its website as well as on the Ethiopia section of UNIDO’s Invest in ACP Platform.

The Investment Pitching Session will convene facilitators and project owners in the fields of sustainable agriculture, production and agro-processing infrastructure to connect with potential investors. The goal is to generate investment leads. The objective of the session is to create a dynamic platform to pitch greenfield and SME-based projects in food security, sustainable agriculture, production, and agro-processing infrastructure to a group of selected potential investors. Ideally, the investment projects will be able to secure funding because of this Investment Forum.

Expected outcomes:

The expected outcomes of the session include:

Securing expressions of interest or commitments from investors for the presented projects, along with the initiation of discussions on potential partnerships, joint ventures, or strategic alliances between project owners and investors.

Project owners will receive feedback from investors, enabling them to refine their proposals and better align with market demands and investment criteria.

Additionally, the session is expected to raise investor awareness of the significant investment potential in sustainable agriculture, food security, and agro-processing infrastructure, while advocating for increased investment in these sectors due to their critical role in achieving global food security goals.

The presentation of EIC is expected to raise further interest amongst potential investors to (re-) invest in Ethiopia’s thriving agro-business sector.

Session format and structure:

Investment Pitching Session:

Following the opening remarks, conference participants will attend a series of investment pitches (each lasting approximately 10 minutes; these are the winning project proposals from a global call for proposals by UNIDO called “Mobilizing Investments for Sustainable Food Security Initiatives” that was launched prior to the Conference). These pitches will present potential investors with investment opportunities across different ticket sizes and tailored to different investment portfolios.

The selected pitches will range from traditional food security projects to innovative start-up solutions. A selection will be made from the following three categories:

Large-scale greenfield projects focused on establishing new infrastructure for agro-processing, irrigation systems and the manufacturing of agricultural inputs (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, machinery, green energy). These greenfield projects can have a significant impact on food security and are particularly attractive for investors seeking large ventures, including development finance institutions (DFIs), impact investors and multinational corporations.
Mid-sized projects linked to medium-sized domestic enterprises seeking to scale their market presence through the expansion of production, value addition, product diversification, improved quality management systems and certification. These types of projects respond to the interests of local-market or regional-market, seeking foreign direct investors, ready and are interested in engaging in collaborative initiatives like joint ventures or other forms of strategic alliances with a domestic SME partner. Impact investors, foundations and diaspora investors will also find opportunities in this middle investment ticket segment.
Start-ups and entrepreneurs, especially young and female entrepreneurs, with innovative business ideas and technological, digital and financial solutions that can enhance transparency and productivity across agro-business value chains. These entrepreneurs typically require seed financing, incubation and accelerating support and are attractive for venture capital firms, impact investors or angel investors.

Following the pitches, there will be a 10-min platform for responses from the investor community, where investors provide immediate financial feedback, express interest, and discuss potential investment opportunities.

Moderator

Mr. Junior Lodge, Assistant Secretary General, OACPS

Mr. Lodge is the Assistant-Secretary-General for Structural Economic Transformation and Trade at the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States. He is a Jamaican national with 30 years of professional work on trade and development negotiations at various levels - multinational (DDA), hemispheric (FTAA), bi-regional (CARIFORUM EPA and post-Cotonou), and national (bananas). In addition to trade negotiations, Mr. Lodge has worked on private sector development and management of trade-related technical assistance. He is a graduate of IfW, Kiel, Germany.

Presentation by the Ethiopian Investment Commission

Presentation on “Ethiopia’s success story in attracting and retaining investments in its thriving agro-business sector”

Mr. Habtamu Simachew Belay, Senior Legal and Policy Advisor, Ethiopian Investment Commission

Habtamu Simachew (Ph.D) has over 15 years of experience in corporate legal advisory, research, teaching, and analytical content preparation on diverse business and investment law issues. Habtamu has advised the Ethiopian government regarding bottlenecks in AfCFTA negotiations and implementation. Currently, he serves as a senior legal advisor for the Ethiopian Investment Commission.

Investment pitches

Ms. Seble Makonnen, Founder/Managing Director, Lal Honey, Ethiopia

Seble, is Doctor of Pharmacy, with over 15 years of experience in the US, who became an entrepreneur igniting a revolution in Ethiopia’s honey sector, becoming the founder of Lal-The Honey Company. What began as a serendipitous discovery in her pantry has evolved into a mission-driven enterprise turning local curiosity into a global narrative. Seble’s endeavor transcends mere commerce, it is a journey punctuated with tradition, innovation, resilience and ceaseless quest to unearth and share Ethiopia’s liquid gold with the world.

Mr. Sophaseila Sakett, Delegate Director of Confirel, Cambodia

Sakett Sophaseila is an experienced executive with a proven record in driving innovation and growth across diverse industries. As the Delegate Director of Investco Holding, he oversees departments in Pharmaceuticals, Hospitality, and Food Processing & Agribusiness. Sakett holds an MBA in Finance & Banking and Strategic Management from the KDI School of South Korea and a Bachelor of Engineering with a Minor in Economics from the National University of Singapore. His career includes roles at Meta Platforms Inc., Phoenix Security Systems, and Forte Insurance, where he consistently exceeded business goals.

Ms. Priscilla Musenge, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Entomo Farm, Zambia

Priscilla Musenge, CEO and Founder of Entomo Farm, is a visionary in sustainable agriculture, pioneering the use of Black Soldier Fly farming to convert organic waste into high-value livestock feed and fertilizer. A 2020 finalist of the White House-backed Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, she has also been recognized by UNDP Zambia for her impactful work. Priscilla is committed to advancing SDGs 1, 2, 3, and 13, empowering women and youth through innovative, climate-resilient farming solutions that address food security and environmental sustainability.

Mr. Flavien Kouatcha Simo, Founder, Africaine Avicole SARL, Cameroon

Flavien Kouatcha is a Cameroonian entrepreneur and founder of Africaine Avicole Ltd, a company pioneering sustainable solutions in the poultry value chain in Africa. With over a decade of experience in agriculture and technology, he empowers smallholder farmers to increase productivity and produce organic poultry using eco-friendly practices. Kouatcha is a mentor, advocate for green innovation, and a prominent voice in Africa's agribusiness sector, dedicated to transforming food systems and ensuring food security across the continent.

Responses from potential investors

Mr. Mohammed Alyami, General Manager of Development Effectiveness Office, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, Islamic Development Bank Group

Over 20 years of experience in different sectors with the most in Evaluation and Development Impact. Currently, Mr. Mohammed Alyami is the General Manager of the Development Effectiveness Office at the Islamic corporation for the Development of the Private Sector-the Islamic Development Bank Group. Mohammed Alyami worked as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School in 2017-2018 in Cambridge, USA. Alyami holds a Ph.D. in Evaluation from Western Michigan University (WMU) with an emphasis on evaluation standards and program evaluation.

Ms. Leyla Traoré, Head of Representation for Ethiopia and the African Union, European Investment Bank

Leyla Traoré is the head of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Representation to Ethiopia and the African Union. With two decades of banking experience, she’s held several leadership roles at EIB, leading groundbreaking work on development finance in emerging markets and developing countries. She also served as Chief Quantitative Risk Officer at the African Development Bank. A French-State Engineer in mathematics with certifications in finance and sustainability, Ms. Traoré is passionate about supporting inclusive economic development and sustainable finance initiatives.

Ms. Alice Usanase, Lead, Europe, Middle East & Francophone Africa, Africa Finance Corporation

Lead, Europe, Middle East & Francophone Africa at Africa Finance Corporation.
Alice Usanase is an accomplished investment executive with over a decade of expertise in identifying and developing over $1 billion in investment opportunities in frontier markets. As the Head of Country Relations and Equity Mobilization at Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Alice has spearheaded efforts to raise over $600 million in new capital, doubled the organization’s membership base, and transformed AFC from a West African representation into a Pan-African entity. She also designed innovative financial structures that significantly expanded and diversified AFC’s investor base, including multilateral organizations, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds. Prior to AFC, Alice managed an $88 million investment climate program at the IFC, enhancing energy and mining sectors in Africa. At the World Bank Group, she implemented regional industrialization and export policy programs in East Africa. Alice is a 2024 WEF Young Global Leader and co-authored a pivotal publication titled "Infrastructure Financing in SSA: Best Practices from 10 Years in the Field.

Related Documents