DSC01227The 13th Brussels Development Briefing took place in Brussels (European Commission, Centre Borschette) on 23rd September 2009 on “Upgrading to compete in a globalised world: What opportunities and challenges for SMEs in agriculture in ACP countries?”.

This Briefing examined the effects of the financial and food crisis on enterprises in developing countries and also the opportunities this can provide to link local SMEs to global economies. Experts also discussed investment programmes needed to support SMEs in order to promote growth and investments, upgrade and upscale SMEs to reach regional and exports markets. Moreover this session shared concrete examples of SMEs being successful by boosting innovation and technology, processing, value-addition, infrastructure upgrading.

  • Programme
  • Concept Note
  • Biodata of speakers and discussants
  • Report of the Briefing
  • Reader
  • List of participants
  • Evaluation Form
  • Pictures
  • Introductory remarks: H.E. Ms Brave Ndisale, Chair of the ACP Committee of Ambassadors; Mr Luca Marangoni, Head of Sector, Economic Development Unit, DG Development (European Commission), Dr Hansjörg Neun, Director of CTA

    Panel 1 – Challenges for SMEs in agriculture
    Due to demographic growth, urbanisation, expected economic growth and non-food use of agricultural products, there will be increased demand for agricultural products. While enterprises in developing countries have been affected by the financial and food crisis, would the crisis offer also opportunities to link local SMEs to global economies? Do SMEs receive the attention they deserve?

    Panelists:

    – The impact of the financial crisis on trade and foreign investment in ACP countries: A focus on SMEs, Alberto Portugal Pérez, Development Economics Research Group, The World Bank [Executive Summary] [Presentation]

    – SMEs competitiveness and upgrading: current issues and challenges, Rafik Feki, Trade Capacity Building, UNIDO [Executive Summary] [Presentation]

    – Clusters, Value Chains and Technological Capabilities Building, Professor Carlo Pietrobelli, Professor of  Economics, University of Roma Tre, Italy [Executive Summary] [Presentation]

    Discussant: Paul Engel, Director of ECDPM

    Panel 2 – New opportunities for the ACP private sector in times of crisis
    This session discussed investment programmes needed to support SMEs in order to promote growth and investments, upgrade and upscale SMEs to reach regional and exports markets. It also shared concrete examples of SMEs being successful by boosting innovation and technology, processing, value-addition, infrastructure upgrading.

    Panelists:

    – Provide equity capital and matching grants in agricultural investments to support agro-industries: the case of the African Agricultural Fund (AAF), Vincenzo Galastro, IFAD [Executive Summary] [Presentation]

    – Private sector investments in Africa’s rural areas: the case of the AECF, André Dellevoet, Executive Manager, Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund, Kenya [Executive Summary] [Presentation]

    – Experiences from the private sector: scope and need for upgrading, Hasit Shah (SUNRIPE, Kenya) [Executive Summary] [Presentation] , Juliette M. Newell (Tijule Company Ltd, Jamaica) [Presentation] , Denis Noel (Noelville Ltd, Grenada) [Executive Summary] [Presentation]

    Discussant: Maboussou Thiam, Director of CDE

    Conclusions: H.E. Ambassador Patrick Gomes, Ambassador of Guyana

    For further information: boto@cta.int

    One thought on “23rd September 2009: “Upgrading to compete in a globalised world: what opportunities and challenges for SMEs in agriculture in ACP countries?”

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