Bangladesh
The underestimated business opportunity

Bangladesh is a resilient country, which has shrugged off the challenging decades of the last century and adopted an optimistic and vigorous attitude moving forward.

Bangladesh has strong agro-processors, but relatively weak agro value chains. Its yield potential is huge because of its fertile land, swift adoption of new crop species, innovative farming practices, and use of technology.

The garment industry and nutrition are two other important pillars for the development of Bangladesh.

Vietnam
Asia’s fast mover 

Vietnam always looks ahead. Joining in international alliances and partnerships, it has rapidly become a smart and ambitious member of the global community. Vietnam industrializes its agriculture by adopting machinery, greenhouses, and new farming practices. Having mastered the art of rice farming, Vietnam’s industrious mind-set is now focussed on the cultivation of fruit and vegetables, and livestock farming. Processing and export are the new growth areas.

The Government’s five-year plans provide the necessary guidance, and the Vietnamese ubiquitous entrepreneurship executes and delivers the results. Besides agriculture, the sectors of insurance, healthcare, tourism, retail and advanced technology are emerging, and in some cases even flourishing.

India
Big number game  

Opportunities and challenges go hand-in-hand in this country of 1.3 billion people. Agriculture, the provision of safe drinking water, sanitation, nutrition, and healthcare are some of the major issues requiring attention. Solutions must also be sustainable, in order to mitigate climate change, issues of water scarcity and high levels of pollution.

The business climate is improving. Bottom-up entrepreneurship and sheer numbers are India’s assets for any business. The ‘tech savvy’ population and local tech companies boost sectors like agriculture, healthcare and industry.

From experience, the European and Indian attitudes and business approach form a very good match.

Pakistan
Strategic anchor point  

Pakistan is one of those attractive frontier states with a higher entry barrier. Pakistan’s assets are a population of 200 million people, a modernizing agriculture and industry, and skilled labour. These guarantee a big leap forward for the coming decades. Volume-wise Pakistan is a leader in dairy, potato and onion farming, however, the quality and yield per hectare or cow still needs improvement.

The geo-strategic position of Pakistan offers opportunities for international trades routes. Central Asia and the Middle East are attractive markets, and Pakistan’s agriculture and processing industry has the potential to take full advantage of this.

A smart – and growing – top layer of the population, along with ambitious companies and start-ups make Pakistan an incubator for multiple innovations in the area of medical equipment and machinery.

Ethiopia
African runner-up

Ethiopia is making leaps and strides in Eastern Africa. Its large-scale agriculture, nutrition and water management programmes are evidence of its ambition and subsequent progress.

Agriculture belts are becoming modernised and are connected to processors through agro business parks, in order to retain more value in the country. Currently, for example fresh mangos leave the country and the more expensive mango juice is imported from South Africa or the Middle East. Investment in the processing sector will create more attractive alternatives to importing, and a better foreign exchange balance as a result.

State-of-the-art seedling farms of European origin and structural export channels for vegetables, display the rapid development of Ethiopia’s agriculture sector.

Ethiopia’s fast-growing population, exploring attitude and ambitious government are key ingredients for businesses and NGOs.

Kenya
Trendsetting hub in Eastern Africa

Kenya is the economic benchmark for Eastern Africa. Trendsetting Nairobi – an international hub for European companies – and an entrepreneurial population are Kenya’s greatest assets.

The quality of healthcare is on the rise. Micro clinics, the swift adoption of new technology, and health insurance are key to better access to healthcare. The company Philips and social entrepreneurs are among the innovators. From a prevention perspective, NGOs and corporates help implement better nutrition and introduce insurance programs.

Innovations in agriculture vary from improved seed to modern greenhouses, with export options as trigger and accelerator.

Recent huge logistic investments link Kenya to other African countries. This in combination with regional cooperation with countries like Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, make it an attractive base for businesses.

Zambia
Potential food basket for SE-Africa

Zambia has the agricultural potential to be the food basket for South-east Africa. Fertile land and water supply are in abundance, and with the use of the right technology, farmers can make this a reality. Quality seed and irrigation systems could revolutionize farming here, with field crops, dairy farming and sunflowers among some of the more profitable options. Business cases illustrate that processing agriculture produce is also a good investment in Zambia. For example, the processing as well as growing of sunflowers has been shown to easily double a farmer’s income within one year.

The infrastructure and the investment climate in Zambia are also attractive. Foreigners and entrepreneurs are welcomed as Zambia looks for partners to help build and grow its economy. By raising incomes, families will have more budget for healthcare, nutritious food and health insurance, raising their living standard.