Africa is tipped to emerge as a global palm oil hub due to an influx of investors seeking diverse participatory models in the Africa palm oil chain. Gabon, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria are all tapping into new palm-driven opportunities. Will this lead to Africa shifting from a net importer to an exporter? With sustainable protocols at its infancy in Africa, how soon will it conform to RSPO norms? To what extent will Africa, with inherent limitations in climate, infrastructural and production models, catch up with dominant Indonesian and Malaysian players?
Held under the Patronage of His Excellency Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon, 2nd Palm Oil Africa, to be held from 17 to 19 October 2013 in Libreville, Gabon, and supported by OLAM, will address sustainability and viability of palm oil business models in the region; and define evolving structures of the palm oil industry, foreign participation and the palm oil value chain from seeds to high-end products. Gabon is fast emerging as a key palm oil centre, attracting big investments, and is poised to emerge as one of the largest producers by 2020 with favourable agriculture investment policies.
His Excellency Julien Nkoghe Bekale, Minister of Agriculture, Gabon, in his keynote address, will outline palm oil business opportunities in Gabon and cash crop development programmes, while Sunny Varghese, Group MD and CEO, OLAM International, unveils OLAM's future investments plans in Gabon.
Honourable Commissioner James Aniyom, Cross River State Ministry of Agriculture, Nigeria, will provide an insight into Nigeria's palm oil plans, while Bernard Goulou from Ministry of Agriculture (Republic of Congo), elaborates on policy and investment frameworks for future palm oil investments.
Newly added to the agenda this year is a two-hour exclusive tour of Olam's Awala Plantations to witness land development preparation activities and visit a nursery. The site visit is optional and open for reservations to 30 delegates only.
For details on other topics and speakers, visit the Palm Oil Africa Web site.
View this news release online at:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130910005155/en
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