Amatheon’s CEO invited as speaker to 7th EU–Africa Business Forum in Brussels

Amatheon Agri Holding’s CEO and Founder Mr. Carl Heinrich Bruhn was honoured to represent the company during a high-level panel discussion around the opportunities of an integrated European-African value chain at the 7^th EU-Africa Business Forum in February 2022 (EABF22). This hybrid meeting was co-organised by the European Commission, the African Union Commission, as well as European Union (EU) and African business organisations and brings together African and European business representatives during numerous round-table discussions and workshops.

Among other successful entrepreneurs and international leaders such as the EU Commissioner for Internal Market, Mr. Thierry Breton, and the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining, Mr. Albert Muchanga, Amatheon’s CEO shared his experiences in establishing a food and agricultural value chain from African countries to Western markets over the past 10 years. Since inception, Amatheon Agri follows a vertical integration of its value chain, starting from primary production together with local farmers, to state-of-the-art processing facilities and ultimately trading of high-end consumer products. This inclusive approach which promotes rural-urban linkages appealed to the panel round, which also included among others Ms. Yacine Fal, Acting Vice-President for Regional Development at the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Mr. Roland Siller, CEO of the Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG).

The panelists’ discourse further revolved around the current trade and investment framework as well as key sectoral challenges in the EU – Africa value chains. The event was visited by in-person attendees as well as numerous online connections. Watch the replay here!

Parallel to the EABF22, the President of the European Commission, Ms Ursula von der Leyen, announced a EUR 150 billion investment package for Africa for the next seven years. During the 6^th European Union – African Union Summit the EU pledged to support more diversified, inclusive, sustainable economies while boosting public and private investments in various areas on the African continent. The investment package aims to support the EU-AU ambitions for Agenda 2030 and AU Agenda 2063.