Agribusiness Forum in Djibouti sparks private sector interest in agrifood investments identified under the FAO Hand in Hand Initiative
03.07.2025
Djibouti, long recognized for its strategic ports and location, is now making headlines for its untapped potential in agrifood. The Djibouti Agribusiness Forum, held in mid-June 2025, has unveiled the country’s strategic openness and opportunities for agrifood investment.
Organized by the Government with support from the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AFDB), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, this landmark event brought together government officials, global investors, and researchers to chart a bold new path for agrifood systems development in the Horn of Africa.
The event was organized under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) through the preparation of materials and organizing the agribusiness roundtable. The national FAO Representative Mr Kwami Dzifanu Nyarko-Badohu and technical personnel, including AgroEconomist Paul Cathala, participated in all three days of the event.
The Forum aimed to unlock barriers to growth and attract private capital to four promising areas of investment: aquaculture, date palms, livestock, and horticulture – all identified and costed under the framework of FAO’s Hand in Hand (HIH) Initiative.
In Djibouti’s case, that means moving to explore rich untapped agrifood investments in both coastal and arid environments.
Private sector ready to engage
The event featured high-level panels where international agribusiness executives shared best practices and outlined what it takes to operate successfully in emerging markets like Djibouti.
Their insights were enriched by case studies from local enterprises and groundbreaking research from CGIAR centers, including WorldFish, the International Livestock Research Institute, and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture.
Interactive sessions, moderated by Didier Nédélec, Agriculture Specialist at the FAO Investment Centre, generated dynamic exchanges between public and private actors. Technical discussions zeroed in on agrifood investment opportunities and key constraints – including marine water quality, gaps in cold-chain infrastructure, the need for resilient plant varieties, and certification systems for agricultural inputs.
Despite these challenges, the consensus was clear: Djibouti has strong agribusiness potential, provided it is supported by the right ecosystem.
Momentum builds towards investment milestones
Crucially, several international companies expressed keen interest in participating in future projects under the HIH Initiative. Many also emphasized the value of partnering with local businesses to navigate regulatory frameworks and accelerate on-the-ground implementation.
This momentum quickly translated into action with an announcement by Ari Magnus Mathiesen, CEO of Willing Hands (Norway), of the immediate launch of a feasibility study for a large-scale aquaculture farm in Djibouti. This investment will allow the sector to reach a critical scale, enabling the development of a local, sustainable fishing industry and increasing fish consumption among Djiboutians.
The announcement led to high-level meetings with the Minister of Finance and the launch of a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize the partnership.
Recognizing the project's transformative potential, Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed expressed strong support and instructed the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries to make aquaculture development a national priority – underscoring the government's alignment with private sector-led innovation.
Regional interest expands beyond borders
The forum also caught the attention of regional actors. Yacoub Sameer from Jordan expressed his intention to return to Djibouti to assess the viability of establishing greenhouse agriculture, while the Luna Farm Export company from Ethiopia showed interest in expanding its fresh produce retail model into the Djiboutian market.
Participants from the World Bank, AFDB, and other institutions called for similar events to be organized across the region, citing the forum’s effectiveness in mobilizing tangible commitments. Moderator Didier Nédélec was specifically approached regarding his availability to help replicate the model in neighboring countries.
Fostering growth through cultural awareness and clear standards
The forum also sparked important conversations around cultural norms and regulatory alignment.
“Nations are very sensitive about what they import from other countries, noted Mohamed Abdiqani, Co-Founder and General Manager of Jijiga Export Slaughterhouse in Ethiopia. “You need clear guidance for Hahal certification and meat export compliance”
Reflecting on experience from the Gulf region, Mohammed Ali of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture added: “Historically in the Gulf countries the government used to do everything but now they are moving to ask the communities to take part of the responsibility, to do away with the dependency syndrome.”
With growing political will, investor engagement, and regional collaboration, the forum marked an important milestone in Djibouti’s journey toward resilient, sustainable food systems – and perhaps a model for the region.
The Hand-in-Hand Initiative Investment Forum 2025
This Forum’s outcomes will feed directly into the upcoming global Hand-in-Hand Initiative Investment Forum 2025 in Rome from 14 to 17 October, and further into a dedicated Djibouti Agrifood Investment Roundtable planned to take place in November, where concrete investor engagements are expected across all four target sectors through the innovative HIH Matchmaking app.