Finance and Business Environment for Value Chain and Agribusiness
DATE: 7 May 2018, 13:30 – 17:30
8 May 2018, 08:30 – 17:30
VENUE: Grand Pacific Hotel, Suva, Fiji
Investing in agriculture means supporting local industry (agriculture/fisheries) as well as spin off industries, and lifestyles, and keeping farmers and other value chain actors in business. Given limited dedicated funding for agriculture and agribusiness because of the perceived inherent risks and the high costs for borrowing as well as the difficulties faced in doing business in the focal countries, are there existing models and approaches in the region that can be considered by Pacific countries? Would a regional approach to designing the enabling policy and regulatory framework for developing agriculture and value chain (VC) financing mechanisms strengthen the agribusiness (including farmers) sector and enable agri-entrepreneurs to take advantage of opportunities in domestic and or export niche markets; health and tourism sectors?
Aim of the Workshop
To identify gaps and strengths in legislation and key innovations and critical success factors for improving access to finance and risk management in support of value chain and agri-business development. Experts from financing institutions, agribusiness sector, farmers/ farmer organizations, and development agencies from different countries will share their experiences. Findings from a multi-country study on ‘Documenting Legislation on Access to Finance and Agri-Value Chain Risk Management’ and success stories from other regions, will be discussed and validated. Critical success factors that will be crucial in improving the current finance and business environment will be identified and an action plan will be developed.
Catalyst Speaker
Aisake Radu, Regional Manager, Fiji Development Bank – Innovative Financing Mechanisms for Agriculture Sector Development in Fiji: The FDB Model
Aisake served in various managerial positions within the Bank, since joining in 1988.
Aisake has over twenty nice years of experience in development banking, predominantly focusing on relationship and sales with clienteles.Aisake Radu is the Fiji Development Bank’s Regional Manager Relationship and Sales Central/Eastern. Aisake holds a Masters in Banking from Pacific Coastal Banking School, US and Bachelor of Arts (Economics/Administration) from the University of the South Pacific.
Download the Finance and Business Environment for Value Chain and Agribusiness Programme here