Platform for African – European Partnership in Agricultural Research for Development

Friday, February 10, 2017

Launch of the Be4Ag CBL/ACP BeLux Agro & Agro-Industries Cluster

10 February 2017. Brussels. ACP Secretariat. The launch of this cluster calls for a revitalized partnership between the private sector, ACP member states' countries strategies and other stakeholders.

The rising of net food imports (expecting to grow from US$ 35bn in 2015 to over US$ 110bn by 2025) are indicative for a broader opportunity to transform agriculture construed as a business. The scale of imports demonstrates that demand exists.

Be4Ag CBL-ACP Cluster is an environment where the enterprises can develop a competitive and global edge. Getting there requires a strategic approach based on lessons learned.

Despite the potential benefits deriving from joint actions, entrepreneurs often choose a go-it-alone strategy. Africa is a market of 1.2 billion people where agriculture is the mainstay of most economies.Nevertheless, only 13% of European companies do business outside the EU. Doing business in Africa is the same as with another continent: barriers are everywhere. Africa is a continent in transition with rapid urbanization, increasing stability, young and growing population, expanding internet connectivity, and a changeover in consumption patterns.

Consequently, appropriate policy support and assistance of the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Group of States is required: be it South-South partnership, be it North-South, be it Triangular. The ACP Group with its 79 members is the unique and longstanding entities on the landscape of international relations. 

Speakers:
  • The Belgian support to agribusiness, Tom Neijens, Advisor of Deputy Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation
  • CTA support to agribusiness development in ACP countries, Isoline Boto, CTA
  • Sugar a sustainable commodity‖ by Paul Kronacker, Chairman of Group Sopex NV and Board Member of the European Association of Sugar Traders (ASSUC)
  • A sustainable development approach‖, Paul Jacquet de Haveskercke, Director-Chief Strategic Officer, DURABILIS NV
  • Inclusive activities of the DENYS Group in Sub Saharan Africa‖ by Johan Van Wassenhove, Managing Director, DENYS Group NV
More broadly Be4Ag CBL-ACP Cluster represents a new way of thinking, challenging much of the conventional wisdom about how companies should be configured, how institutions such as universities can contribute to competitive success, and how governments can promote economic development and prosperity.

Highlighted SME's:

Casibeans, Melsele, Belgium

The company was registered by Mr Albert Suy in August 1935 near Antwerp, Belgium. With his sharp trading spirit, the company grew from a one-man entity to a larger workforce. In the 1970s his son, Mr Carlo Suy took over the steering wheel and directed the company towards growth.

With production lines in Antwerp, Paris and Chartres C.A Suy NV delivered pulses, seeds and grains to the industry, retail, agro-industry and export. Contract farming, seeding projects and very close relationships with suppliers lead to the set up of subsidiaries and branches in other countries, such as the France, the Netherlands, but also Kyrgistan, Myanmar and China.
Chickpeas

The company is also active in Africa since many years (mainly Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) where it is working closely with suppliers, to advise them on how to improve production processes to meet European quality requirements.

Quality and product development have always been at the core of its activity. As such, the company was ahead of its time when in the 1990s it was the first to launch chips and biscuits made from beans under its brand Fiberking. Building on its product know how and its expertise of the entire value chain from seeding up to cleaning and logistics, nourishing established long standing relationships both with customers and suppliers, while continuously looking for new partners and origins to discover, the company remains a highly reputable player in the European industry today.

Forpex Belgium (CVBA) Rotselaar, Belgium

Is producing among others anorganic chimical products

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