On behalf of the Chair of the Agribusiness Steering Committee and The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) Board Member Dr. J.B. Penn of Deere & Company, I am pleased to invite you to attend the 2008 U.S.-Africa Agribusiness Forum to be held June 25-27 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, Illinois. As the African continent takes center-stage among emerging markets, the investment opportunities are quite significant, especially in agriculture-related industries. With many other nations around the world looking to invest in Africa, now is the time for American companies to do the same.

The Corporate Council on Africa is an organization of 180 corporations who collectively represent more than 85 percent of all U.S. private investment in Africa. Our programs offer the very best opportunities for you to quickly understand the Africa marketplace and develop support for your projects and goals. In addition to businesses, government officials from Africa and the United States will be participating in the Forum.

Topics that will be addressed at the Forum include financing, food security and commodity markets, increasing demand for protein and livestock systems, growing the market for dairy products, private sector coalitions, infrastructure investments to connect markets, technology for improving productivity, cell phone technology and market information systems, agro-forestry and carbon markets, food products and niche markets, and bio-fuel investments.

Many of the 53 diverse countries that make-up the African continent are rapidly organizing their economies to harness the potential of their natural and human resources and to address the short-term challenges. These present many business opportunities, while at the same time helping these countries meet their significant challenges in the agriculture and food sectors. By investing two days of your time, you can gain valuable insights on investing in Africa by becoming more knowledgeable about the African marketplace. The networking sessions are ideal for identifying projects that deliver social and commercial returns as well as meeting potential business partners and contacts from Africa. The fact is that for anyone exploring the African marketplace, this program will save your company much time and money and may prove to be a far more efficient way to develop the understanding of the African marketplace and your company’s place in it.

If you have questions regarding the Forum program and/or registration, please contact Joyce Cacho at (202) 835-1115 or agribizforum@africacncl.org or click here for regular updates and to register.

We look forward to welcoming you in Chicago for the 2008 U.S. – Africa Agribusiness Forum.

Sincerely,
Stephen Hayes
President
The Corporate Council on Africa

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