Government pledges stronger policies, infrastructure to boost Africa’s food chains

BY GALGALLO FAYO AND EVALYNE GITHINJI-PCO

The Government remains committed to supporting policy and regulatory frameworks, infrastructural development, and digitalization to strengthen food chains and build robust market linkages.

The Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo Gitau, emphasized that for Africa to attract private investment at scale, it is essential to strengthen the enabling environment through predictable policy frameworks, bankable value chains, reliable infrastructure, and trade systems that reduce risk and lower the cost of doing business.

The CS was addressing key stakeholders during a public-private dialogue on mobilising the private sector for sustainable trade and investment in Africa’s agrifood sector.

The event was organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in collaboration with the Government of Kenya, the Government of Romania, and the AfCFTA Secretariat. 

Speaking at the event held in Nairobi, Kabogo acknowledged that this requires strong collaboration between governments and the private sector through effective public-private partnerships capable of mobilising capital, scaling enterprises, and strengthening competitiveness across agrifood value chains.

“In Kenya, this work is being advanced through a whole-of-government approach. We are implementing a National Digital Agriculture Roadmap developed through extensive ecosystem engagement and in collaboration with development and philanthropic partners.

Present were Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, Mauritius, Arvin Boolell, Minister of Trade and Industry, Rwanda, Prudence Sebahizi, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Tanzania, David Silinde, Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Romania, Mr. Florian-Emil Dumitru, Director of the Private Sector Unit, among other stakeholders.