NAR, Propcom+ partner to unlock agric investments
NAR, Propcom+ partner to unlock agric investments
The Nigeria Agribusiness Register (NAR) has partnered with Propcom+, a UK-funded programme, and other capital providers to unlock agricultural investments to strengthen food security and economic growth.
Mr Nathaniel Odiba, Deal Room and Partnership Manager, NAR, said this at the Agriculture Summit Africa (ASA) Investment Deal Room on Wednesday in Abuja.
Odiba said the initiative, led by NAR as the strategic lead of the Agribusiness Deal Room, was designed to connect agribusinesses with potential investors and other sources of capital.
He said the Deal Room brought together investors and scalable agribusinesses in a structured environment to accelerate transactions that could boost food security, create rural jobs and support sustainable economic growth.
According to him, the platform also focused on investment readiness, technical assistance and market access, with engagements expected to continue beyond the summit where potential opportunities emerged.
“It facilitated structured engagement between agribusinesses seeking finance, technical support and market opportunities and potential investors, financial institutions, development partners and other private-sector actors,” he said.
Odiba said the Deal Room was managed by NAR with support from Propcom+, combining curated thematic pitch sessions with structured one-on-one meetings.
He said the arrangement provided participating businesses opportunities to present their enterprises, financing needs and growth plans directly to relevant capital and commercial partners.
Dr Adiya Ode, Country Representative of Propcom+, said access to finance was not the only challenge facing many agribusinesses.
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Ode said businesses also needed to be investment-ready, while financiers required sufficient information to assess them and appropriate financing options that reflected the realities of agricultural enterprises.
“Our support for the ASA Deal Room is therefore about strengthening the connection between viable businesses and the capital and commercial opportunities they need to grow,” she said.
She said Propcom+ viewed the Deal Room as an opportunity to strengthen a structured market mechanism that went beyond introductions at an event to support businesses before, during and after the summit.
“For Propcom+, the expected outcome is not simply the number of businesses that participate, but stronger linkages between agribusinesses and financial or commercial partners, greater investment readiness and ultimately more transactions and private-sector investment in the agricultural market system,” Ode said.
She said Propcom+ was an eight-year programme running from 2023 to 2030, supporting rural and agricultural market development, climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture and forestry.
Ode said the programme sought to deliver benefits for people, climate and nature.
