Kalliope Gourntis
Nepal’s agro-entrepreneurs will have a whole suite of services available to them as they look to grow and improve their businesses, in the form of a new innovation center, launched by the World Bank.
The Australian Agricultural Company has appointed Shehan Dissanayake executive director, “a first step in strengthening the company’s executive ranks” as AACo looks to expand into more export markets.
Chinese outbound direct investment in Australia’s agricultural sector jumped 220% in 2016 compared to the previous year, totaling $903.7 million.
The location of the 24 properties in prime agricultural country, along with a yield of around 5 percent and the potential to generate carbon credits is attracting financial investors first and foremost.
Milltrust Agricultural Investments has made its first acquisition through its MAI Australia Buy & Lease Fund, a vehicle it launched in June 2016 with the backing of UK institutional investors.
The $44bn deal could close next month following ChemChina’s recent announcement that the public tender offer for Syngenta shares will end May 4.
Tim Burrow, head of the trade association Agribusiness Australia, tells Agri Investor that despite a disappointing level of investment from superannuation funds into the local agricultural sector, the situation is slowly improving.
With commitments from four new investors – among them AXA and KBC – the impact investor has raised a total of $140m for its agRIF fund.
The National Farmers’ Federation and the boutique investment firm have already committed A$121m of the fund’s capital and expect a first close end of June.
The World Bank’s financing arm will provide a $37m loan for the construction of a new grain terminal at the Black Sea port of Yuzhny, a project whose partners include EBRD, MV Cargo and Cargill.