At the recently concluded Africa Business Forum (ABF) 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, IITA–CGIAR Director of Private Sector Partnerships, Dr Debo Akande, led an IITA delegation at the high-profile event hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Centered around the theme, “From Potential to Prosperity: Activating Africa’s Regional Value Chains,” the forum brought together key stakeholders to drive discussions on sustainable industrialization, development of regional value chains, and food security across the continent.
Over 200 participants with several honoraries, including Heads of State, H.E. President Taye Atske Selassie of Ethiopia, H.E. President Duma Gideon Boko of Botswana, and H.E. President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, attended the Forum.
Other notable attendees included the Chairperson of the United Nations General Assembly, Philemon Yang, Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Secretary General of the AU African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mena, and two subnational governmental range of dignitaries from the international finance community, development banks, and the business world.
A presidential dialogue with Presidents of Botswana and Ghana followed the opening ceremony. They emphasized the critical role of pan-African cooperation in activating regional value chains. Additionally, panel sessions focused on solutions for financing, trade facilitation, and technological innovation.
Speaking during Roundtable Two, moderated by Zuzana Schwidrowski of UNECA, Dr Akande highlighted the impact of IITA’s Technology for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program and IITA Business Incubation Platform (IITA-BIP) scaling models, adding that these initiatives aim to deliver productivity-enhancing technologies to farmers, aligning African agricultural industries with global standards.
IITA’s exhibition booth attracted high-profile visitors, including the President of Ethiopia, the Governor of Oyo State, representatives from UNECA, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other international organizations.
During the exhibition, TAAT Private Sector Engagement Officer, Geoffrey Nsofon Guemuh, and IITA Agribusiness Development Manager, Gift Peter engaged with partners from African Canadian Business Chamber, International Trade Centre, UNESCO, and Quanomic, exploring future collaborative areas.
In his remark, Claver Gatete, UNECA’s Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary, stressed the need to accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to strengthen regional value chains, particularly in the pharmaceuticals and agriculture industries. He said reduced trade costs, improved infrastructure, and investment in value-added production are essential steps toward a competitive Africa.
Gatete urged African governments and businesses to reshape global perceptions by demonstrating the quality and competitiveness of African products. The Forum concluded with a collective commitment to regional integration, value chain development, and industrialization, positioning AfCFTA and strategic partnerships as catalysts for Africa’s economic transformation.
With several potential partnerships in view – the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the African Canadian Business Chamber, the International Trade Centre, UNESCO, the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and UNECA, future collaborations will enhance the activities of TAAT and BIP, expanding their reach and impact.
IITA’s engagement at ABF 2025 emphasizes dedication to advancing agricultural innovation, strengthening public-private partnerships, and supporting Africa’s regional value chains for long-term growth and food security.
Contributed by Gift Peter and Debo Akande
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