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The Forum was attended by 36 Polish companies – primarily agricultural machinery manufacturers – and about 50 companies and organisations from Africa – from Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan, Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Burundi, Tanzania and the Ivory Coast. The forum witnessed approximately 150 B2B meetings and cooperation agreements.

 Machinery deliveries to Africa

A significant part of the agreements concerns the supply of Polish agricultural machinery and technologies for agriculture in Africa. BrazAfric Enterprises Ltd, based in Kenya, has signed several agreements with Polish companies. These include the supply of machinery from the manufacturer POM Augustów (Podlaskie), spare parts and agricultural equipment from the company "Damian" Damian Czeszyk (Zakrzew, Wielkopolska), biostimulants and biofertilizers from the company Agrarius (Przemyśl), as well as oils and operating fluids for agricultural machinery from the company Polfluid (Tychy, Silesia). The cooperation also includes the supply of fertilisers produced by Itracom Technologies (Kielce, Świętokrzyskie).

The agreements also included contracts for the supply of Polish grains and flour -  the JAKPOL Grain Processing Plant (Świny, Łódzkie Voivodeship) has concluded agreements with African partners, including BrazAfric Enterprises Limited and ModernTech Technologies Limited from Ghana, covering the supply of grain products and grain processing technologies.

In the agri-food sector, an agreement was also signed between ModernTech Technologies Limited from Ghana and Ferma Drobiu (Krosnowa, Łódzkie Voivodeship) regarding the supply of poultry breeding, meat processing and feed production technologies.

Agreements were also signed in the area of machinery and technology for small farms, which constitute the dominant agricultural structure in many African countries.  In this respect, cooperation with machine manufacturers, including: Bomet (Węgrów, Mazowieckie), Bury Maszyny Rolnicze (Woźniaków, Łódzkie) and Spaw-Met (Łobżenica, Wielkopolskie) is developed by the Polish-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Subsequent contracts concern the supply of agricultural equipment from companies such as Jar-Met (Węgrów, Mazowieckie), Agromasz (Strzelce Małe, Łódzkie), Akpil (Pilzno, Podkarpackie), ZabieL (Jedwabne, Podlasie), NoTiller (Włodawa, Lubelskie) and Lisicki (Rawa Mazowiecka).  Agreements were also signed for the supply of specialised agricultural equipment, including a potato sorting plant manufactured by KMK Agro (Brodowo, Greater Poland) and fuel tanks manufactured by Swimer (Toruń). The first machine is already on its way to Kenya -  a single-disc fertiliser spreader from Jar-Met is delivered straight from the trade fair.

Some of the agreements also concern modern technologies supporting agricultural production.

The Rwapol company from Rwanda has signed agreements with Polish companies to supply agricultural machinery and innovative technological solutions, including spraying drones manufactured by aeroMind (Poznań) and plant growth biostimulants from BioWermTechno (Białystok). The cooperation also includes the supply of agricultural amino acids produced by Agro-Sorb Polskie Aminokwasy (Częstochowa).

Investment projects were also presented during the Forum. A consortium comprising Capital Primus/Tractors for Africa, Ursus Chełmno, and Itracom Technologies signed an agreement to establish an agricultural machinery and tractor assembly plant in Tanzania.

Food and raw material supplies

Some of the contracts also concern the supply of agri-food products and agricultural raw materials; the Polish-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry agreed with Volt Ethiopia Import Export to supply 20,000 tons of wheat and 1,200 tons of sunflower oil to Ethiopia.

An agreement was also signed regarding the export of potatoes from Poland to the Ivory Coast, concluded by the Kaźmierczak company (Orzeszkowo, Wielkopolska) with its trading partner Opipele Diawala.

 Institutional cooperation

Several documents concern the development of institutional cooperation and economic promotion; Targi Kielce has signed cooperation agreements with the SIPSA FILAHA agricultural fair in Algeria and the Sub-Saharan African Farmers Organisation in Zambia to promote the Agrotech fair in Africa.

The Polish-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry also concluded agreements with agricultural machinery manufacturers: Bomet, Bury Maszyny Rolnicze, and Spaw-Met regarding the development of cooperation in African markets.

150 talk-shop sessions

B2B talks between representatives of Polish companies and businesses from Africa were a key part of the forum - participants' feedback is that direct meetings are necessary to open the path to export. Exhibitors declare their participation in the next meeting.  – Manufacturers of agricultural machinery and exhibitors at the Agrotech trade fair clearly communicated the need to find new export directions during last year’s expo.  Africa is a highly attractive market; thus, with the involvement of the Polish-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, we organised the Agro Africa B2B Forum. 150 meetings represent a significant number of opportunities for cooperation and export opportunities," emphasises Dr Andrzej Mochoń, President of Targi Kielce. 

Every type of agricultural machinery is in demand in Africa

Expert debates on the entry of Polish companies into African markets and the financing options for investment projects preceded the trade talks.

During the forum, the Ambassador of Rwanda to Poland, Professor Anastase Shyaka, emphasised that the scale of economic cooperation remains small. - If we look at economic exchange between Poland and Africa, which constitutes approximately 1-1.2%, it means that there is still a lot of area to develop and do business with, he said.  – Our continent is home to one and a half billion people, most of whom are young - this is the continent of the future. Every type of agricultural machinery is in demand in Africa, and as we know, those who come first will earn the most

And he added that agriculture remains a key sector of the economy.

Africa's great potential

According to Philip Mibenge, president of the Polish-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the demand for agricultural technology is very high.   - Over 70 per cent of our agriculture is not mechanised, so there is great potential for investment and cooperation - he emphasised.

Przemysław Bochat, president of the Polish Chamber of Commerce for Agricultural Machines and Facilities, estimates that Polish companies have the competencies needed in this market. - Polish producers started by producing machines for small farms;  we are well prepared to respond to the African markets’ needs, and we have a lot of work to do there, he said.

 Marcos Brandalise, president of BrazAfric Enterprises Limited from Kenya, also spoke about the importance of Polish technology for African agriculture. - Poland is a great partner when it comes to agricultural machinery and knowledge.  " We want to do business with you and use your machines and fertilisers," he noted.

The forum participants emphasised that the signed agreements and ongoing talks may translate into increased exports of Polish agricultural technologies and greater presence of Polish companies in African markets in the coming years.

The Agro Africa B2B Forum was held under the auspices of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency and the National Support Centre for Agriculture. The event was held as part of the Agrotech agricultural technology fair at Targi Kielce. This year's expo was the showcase for over 500 exhibitors from 21 countries.  The event hosted nearly 80,000 people from Poland and abroad.