Agriculture

Zambia
Serbian agribusiness group FPM plots southern African expansion

With support from players as diverse as the Zambian armed forces, the Serbian diplomatic corps and an Israeli agribusiness company, equipment manufacturer FPM Agromehanika is looking to become an alternative in a market dominated by South Africa.

Kenya, Madagascar
Ruto and Randrianirina's unexpected closer relationship

Invited to Antananarivo to celebrate 66 years of independence, the Kenyan president is making his first visit to the country. Despite the island's suspension from the African Union following the Colonel's coup, relations between the two states have strengthened in recent months.

Gabon
Libreville set to sign deal with LVMH

In June, Gabon's green economy development agency is slated to sign a memorandum of understanding for the provision of forest products with Bernard Arnault's luxury giant.

Madagascar
Approved vanilla exporters convene in Sambava

The AVM Malagasy vanilla alliance is quietly pressing ahead with its establishment, as discussed at a meeting on 13 June in the country's “vanilla capital”.

The New Guard
Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Kenya

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

Ivory CoastKarine Oulaté, driving social media monetisation

CameroonNassourou Issa, embodiment of the national development strategy

KenyaRuth Oriama, economist with many strings to her bow

South Africa
Pretoria steps up pressure on SADC to deliver regional integration roadmap

South Africa, serving as the bloc's acting chair, is pushing for deeper economic cooperation and wants concrete proposals on trade, agriculture and mining ahead of the August summit.

Ivory Coast
Agriculture minister clashes with Conseil Café-Cacao regulator over cocoa bean stock estimates

Yves Brahima Koné openly confronted Bruno Koné during a meeting at the CCC’s headquarters attended by the two officials and a group of exporters.

Madagascar
Trade Minister Andriamadison set to lead new vanilla alliance

The AVM, soon to be under the leadership of Haingotiana Angela Michela Andriamadison, will replace the powerful and strategically important CNV vanilla council at a time when control over its financial assets has become highly contested.

Ivory Coast
Cocoa trader Touton to exit storage and processing after Hartree deal

Following its takeover by the US hedge fund, which was finalised in early April, the French trader sold its warehouses to its local partner and divested itself of its grinding plant. The company has, however, increased the volume of cocoa beans it purchases.

Madagascar
More than 300 vanilla exporters approved for the 2025-26 season

Following the suspension of the CNV regulatory body, Colonel Randrianirina's administration is pressing ahead with its overhaul of the vanilla trade by dramatically widening access to export licences for companies selling to international markets.

Ivory Coast
Multinational cocoa lobby head removed from post

Amid growing tensions, GEPEX's executive director, Mariame Koné-Bédié, has just left her position, officially because she has reached the age limit.

Algeria
French grain trade struggles to reimpose itself in Algiers

Despite the thaw in relations with Paris, French wheat exporters have little hope of a near-term resumption of trade with their former leading international customer.

Africa
Castel group realigns strategy for Somdia subsidiary

With an annual investment of €70 million, the African subsidiary of the group founded by Pierre Castel is focusing on a renewed commitment to agriculture and industry. The next step is the launch of a new distillery in Ivory Coast.