Africa Top Success Ils font l'Afrique
Initiator of the first agricultural grant of Ethiopia, the economist Eleni Gabre-Madhin is planning to extend the project to other countries of Africa. This grant conceived for small traders of informal sector allows farmers and traders to be connected to the global economy, by modernizing Ethiopian agriculture.
The success of the Ethiopian experience seduced Ghana which will also create its agricultural grant in 2015. The project estimated at 15 million euros will be financed by a consortium made up of several shareholders among which Ghanaian government and Eleni company.
Present at the last Africa Forum in Geneva, Eleni Gabre-Madhin gave details of the agricultural grant of Ghana to the colleagues of Jeune Afrique magazine. 40 to 50 million US dollars will be invested in the construction of eight storage sites of a 280 000 ton capacity. A mechanized system will be set up for processing the on-the-spot raw materials.
A part from Ethiopia and Ghana, Eleni Gabre-Madhin aims at several other African markets. « We launched a study in Cameroon where the potential is enormous. We define a road map to revitalize and privatize agricultural grant of Abuja, Nigeria, launched in 2006. We think of being well indicated to win this market. We also signed a memorandum agreement in Mozambique and we are in discussions with Ivory Coast. Finally, another country announced us its will to create a grant of carbon. I was also invited to come and speak with Moroccan government; it seems very exciting to me », she explained.
A Master’s degree holder in agricultural economics at the University of Michigan and a doctorate owner in applied economy at Stanford University, Eleni Gabre-Madhin occupied important posts at the World Bank and ar the international Institute of research on food policies.
Original text by: Roger ADZAFO
