Sudan is seeking to attract at least $1bn of capital for its agricultural sector from Arab and Asian investment groups, which are turning to Africa in search of new food supplies as their governments try to manage the impact of commodity price inflation.
UAE-based investment company Al Barakah has shown interest in developing agriculture and farming projects in Bulgaria.
The GCC states are rapidly pursuing contracts for the purchase of land from eastern Africa to Vietnam to guarantee ample food supplies
While some North African countries are selling land, others struggling with dry climates are starting to buy land tracts overseas and in other African nations to feed their own growing populations.
“We plan to have invested $1bn in farms within five years,” says Petrus du Toit of Ridge Solutions, which is acquiring farmland in Angola with backing from foreign investors.
Joint venture with the India/UAE Allana Group acquires 20,000 head of cattle owned by Felda and gains access to over 850,000 hectares of oil palm land.
Abu Dhabi is preparing to launch a large-scale agricultural project in Sudan to develop more than 70,000 acres of land as part of the oil-rich Gulf emirate's efforts to secure food supplies.
Between 2007 and mid-2008, Gulf states and their government-backed businesses spent US$15 billion (Dh55bn) in sub-Saharan Africa alone, much of it in the drive for food security
"As more investors look into the opportunities that developed nations present there will be no need to go underground or be ashamed of these deals," said Hakan Agro's Tomar.
Farmland, whose $5,000bn value equates to about 7-10% of the value of world equity markets, could be worth 15-25% of share values by 2020, Hardman & Co analysts say
Government of Namibia has leased land to Namibia Development Corporation and the Abu Dhabi-based Al Dhahra Agricultural Company to produce farm grapes and dates on a large commercial scale
NCB Capital estimates that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the main buyers of African land, have acquired some 6 million acres worldwide, largely in Sudan, Pakistan and Indonesia. Other estimates are much higher.
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Cibus Capital agrees sale of olive oil producer Innoliva to Fiera Comox
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Algérie : Les terres agricoles non exploitées « doivent être récupérées »
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