Vlisco Group, FG sign investment MoU on cotton, textile and fashion sectors

PR@NaijaAgroNet:

The Dutch textile and design company, Vlisco Group, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Government of Nigeria, creating a platform for significant expansion in Africa’s largest economy. 

The Nigerian government in December 2014 approved a major revitalisation and reform of its Cotton, Textiles and Garment (CTG) sector. This will catalyse growth and jobs in Nigeria across the entire value-chain from cotton to fashion.

The pathfinding Memorandum of Understanding between The Vlisco Group and the Nigerian government details wide-ranging collaboration and support. Vlisco Group intends to offer Nigeria’s 188m consumers its four brands (Woodin, Vlisco, Uniwax and GTP). The Group will participate across the sector value chain from sourcing of cotton, textile printing, wholesale, retail and e-commerce distribution, garment manufacturing and supporting and promoting Nigerian fashion designers.

The MoU is expected to yield benefits for the Nigerian economy in terms of economic diversification and job creation in line with the Government’s Industrial Revolution strategy. Vlisco Group’s activities are expected to generate more than 10,000 jobs in Nigeria in the medium term. 

The Honourable Minster of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, commenting on the MoU stated: ”The Government of Nigeria is delighted to welcome this investment and partnership from the Vlisco Group into Nigeria. We are determined to rebuild this historically important sector with its job creation impact across the entire value chain from cotton fields to fashion. We are looking forward to implementing this strategic partnership with the Vlisco Group”.

Hans Ouwendijk, CEO of Vlisco Group: “We commend the Nigerian Government for its focus on revitalising this critical sector. The new policy enables the Vlisco Group to invest in Nigeria and to contribute to the building of a vibrant CTG sector. Nigeria is Africa’s largest consumer market and the opportunity to fully deploy our brands and business models in Nigeria provides a major boost to our growth ambition.”

Actis, as the majority shareholder in Vlisco Group, fully supports the Nigerian Government’s strategy for revitalising the textile sector. Fash Sawyerr, Director at Actis LLP: ”We applaud the Nigerian government’s focus on revitalising its CTG sector and diversifying its economy. We believe this significant agreement with Vlisco Group will be highly beneficial to Nigeria, job creation and to the Vlisco Group. We will provide our support to both parties to develop the intended benefits and economic impact across the textile value chain in Nigeria.”

 

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Fish Center, WFO sign MoU on food security

NaijaAgroNet:

The World Fish Center (WFC) and World Farmer’s Organisation (WFO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote food security and rural development, reports NaijaAgroNet. 

The WFO, NaijaAgroNet gathers is an assemblage of national farmers’ organisations and agricultural cooperatives in 44 countries in order to represent and safeguard global food security, the environment as well as the socio-economic wealth of rural communities. On the other hand, the WFC, an international scientific research center part of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) involved in promoting sustainable fishing and safeguarding water resources.

NaijaAgroNet reports that WFO Executive Director, Marco Marzano de Marinis, described the MoU between WFO and WFC as efforts at supporting agricultural organisations, with the firm belief that farmers and fishermen are a fundamental resource for global food security, rural development, and, in general, for global development.

“Farmers are the main investors in their sector, thus they have to be involved in any strategy aimed at raising their incomes and promoting this sector. Thus, farmers need better policies and a normative framework which includes economic incentives,” Marco Marzano said.

NaijaAgroNet notes that farmers and fishermen are fundamental resources for global food security and rural development. A 10-year agreement has been signed to strengthen their partnership as well as cooperate to develop projects and programs aimed at supporting farmers through learning and development initiatives. The activities will consist of mutual planning and support in research, promotion through conferences, seminars, workshops, but especially the development of common policies and advocacy strategies.

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IFRC, AfDB sign MOU on food security, disaster risk reduction

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Tunis aimed at providing assistance to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in Africa.

The MoU between the two organizations, NaijaAgroNet was informed, specifically outlines several areas of potential collaboration, including climate change, health care, food security, disaster risk reduction, youth development, and water and sanitation.

The IFRC Secretary General, Bekele Geleta, said that with drought currently affecting parts of southern Africa and many people in the Sahel region coping with flooding, it is imperative that they form strategic partnerships with local actors to help address recurring challenges.

Referring to the successful outcomes of the recent African Development Fund (ADF) negotiations in Paris, African Development Bank Group President Donald Kaberuka highlighted the Bank’s commitment to fragile states and stressed the need for greater urgency to address food insecurity and flooding that affects millions of people across the continent.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that the IFRC is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network, reaching 150 million people each year through its 187 member national societies, while the AfDB is to spur sustainable economic development and social progress in its 54 regional member countries (RMCs), thus contributing to poverty reduction.

*With additional report from African Press Organization

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Oyo, Canadian firm signs N209.8bn MOU on mechanised agric

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

The Oyo State government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) worth $1.3 billion about N209.8 billion with a Canadian agricultural company for the development of the state agricultural sector towards the production of tomatoes, vegetables, fruits, chicken as well as wind solar system.

At the signing ceremony in the state, the excited Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi explained that his trips abroad had paid off as the MOU with the Canadian company will see that the project commence in the next three months and to attain  full scale production in the next two years.

NaijaAgroNet learnt from Governor Ajimobi that the investment which would be second to none in the annals of agriculture in Africa is meant to enhance food security and also to provide job opportunity for the teeming unemployed youth in the state and beyond.

He commended the firm, SGNTT, for its commitment to the development of agriculture and for its readiness to invest in the state’s agricultural sector and noted that” The MoU is a milestone. It is a legacy that will stand the test of time. It will be second to none in terms of the opportunities available in agriculture.”

The leader of the team, Edward Ndububa  disclosed  that based on the understanding with the state government, the firm is committed to partner with it in the area of large scale mechanised agriculture,  while the project would be located in Itesiwaju and Afijio local government areas of the state

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Pix: Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi

AFEX, FMARD sign MoU on national agro warehousing project

The pan African Exchange Holdings (AFEX), led by Tony O. Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings (http://www.heirsholdings.com), Nicolas Berggruen, Chairman of Berggruen Holdings, and Jendayi Frazer, President of 50 Ventures, to establish commodity exchanges across Africa, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture to create a pioneering warehouse receipt system that will enable Nigerian farmers and cooperatives to safely store their produce at accredited warehouses.

NaijaAgroNet reported African Press Organization (APO) as quoted Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the transformational Minister of Agriculture, as saying, “Strengthening agricultural markets is critical to diversifying Nigeria's economy. Our partnership with AFEX will help to improve the access of farmers to markets, reduce post-harvest losses, stabilize prices and raise their incomes. We are rapidly modernizing agriculture in Nigeria and the development of warehouse receipt systems will underpin the successful establishment of thriving agricultural commodities exchanges in Nigeria.”

Elumelu, the Chairman of AFEX Holdings, said, “We are pleased to be working with the Nigerian government on this project to deliver transformative, sustainable investment to the country’s agribusiness sector. This initiative is a step towards financially empowering more farmers and ensuring that agriculture is not only commercially viable, but a strong positive contributor to the Nigerian economy. This builds on the experience and success of our subsidiary – East Africa Exchange – in Rwanda which has become a critical player in agribusiness development across the continent.”

He continued: “My partners and I are greatly encouraged by the transformation of Nigeria's agriculture sector as driven by Dr Adesina and we want to support the federal government in its innovative approach.”

Nicolas Berggruen, the founder and president of Berggruen Holdings, said, “Agriculture in Africa is key to the prosperity of the continent.  Specifically for Nigeria, we are investing in the infrastructure needed to ensure the flow of commodities from farms to the local, regional, and global marketplace.”

Nigerian farmers may now use receipts for their produce as collateral for loans. This will control price volatility due to the availability of buffer stock, enabling farmers to sell produce at better price points. The two-year pilot phase of the warehouse receipt system covers seven states, mostly in northern Nigeria, where agriculture is by far the largest economic sector – Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Kwara, Gombe and Oyo – and will commence in October 2013.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture will support the warehouse receipt system by creating the enabling environment that is essential for its successful delivery, and will also provide warehouse infrastructure.

Jendayi Frazer, the former US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, who is the Managing Partner at AFEX, stated, “The warehouse receipt system will help improve food security across Nigeria. It will not only give farmers and cooperatives better access to markets by linking their market produce to high-value buyers, but will also deliver higher profits for stakeholders. AFEX believes our electronic warehouse receipt system and improved warehousing operations will be the stepping stone to establishing a vibrant commodities exchange in Nigeria.”

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Four Ministries sign MoU to provide mobile phones for women farmers

The Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development (FARD), Finance, Communications Technology and Women Affairs have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the provision of mobile phones to one million women farmers in 2013.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, confirmed this to NaijaAgroNet, disclosed this at a gender and agriculture dialogue organised by the World Bank in Abuja on yesterday, Thursday.

The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Ms. Marie-Francoise Marie-Nelly, said the bank would invest $1m, about N1,500,000 million in the nation’s agricultural sector in manners that would benefit women farmers in the next three to five years.

The minister, who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Ibukun Odusete, said women farmers lacked access to finance and technology and were, hampered in their productivity.

He listed several efforts being made by the Federal Government to address the inequality of the womenfolk in agriculture which include the provision of mobile phones and access to finance.

“As you know, the government has ended the corruption in fertiliser distribution. We took government out of procurement. Before, only 11 per cent of farmers had access to fertiliser. The private sector now sells fertiliser directly to farmers,” he said.

Also, the minister pointed out that women do not have access to mobile phones, stressing that his ministry is working hard to address this inequity.

“In 2013, the ministry will endeavour to reach at least one million women farmers to ensure that they have access to mobile phones,” he assured.



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