As part of efforts aimed at improving food exportation across the continent, a leading agribusiness, JR Farms, has launched a Food For Nation Digital Export platform targeted at achieving sustainable food production in the country and beyond.
   
Speaking at the unveiling of the initiative in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of JR Farms, Olawale Rotimi, said the platform aggregated the fragmented efforts exporters are looking for in carrying out their operations.
 
He explained, “it is really an important platform because all our exporters don’t know how to export in the food sector. This will really give them the know-how and connect them to relevant partners needed to facilitate their exports.”
 
Rotimi noted that the digital platform is significant for the food value chain in Nigeria, adding, it will give the country opportunity of getting more recognition in the agribusiness sector.
     
Speaking on partnership with France, he said the choice is to gain access by exporting foods to the entirety of the 27 countries in EU where France is an important member.
   
In his keynote address, the Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, Republic of France, Olivier Becht, said the initiative would enrich collaboration between the two countries, adding that it will help citizens to have access to food supply.
   
While noting that Nigeria has the potential for growth to attract foreign investors, he stated that the ‘Food For Nation’ initiative is designed to facilitate seamless exchange of agricultural products between the two countries.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, in her remarks, decried lack of accurate data as one of the challenges facing the sector, noting that it has become a challenge to attract investors.
 
Managing Director of Union Bank, Mudassir Amray, emphasised that to further strengthen the agricultural sector, there is need for sustainability and collaboration among farmers and stakeholders.
 
Amray, represented by the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Joe Mbulu, noted that the bank is committed to supporting the growth of agriculture through series of projects and collaborations with the aim of improving operation in the sector.
   
He said: “Union Bank is positioned to serve the entire value chain in agriculture and agribusiness. We provide aggregators, farmers, and exporters with the working capital needs including expansion and modernisation requirements to meet quality requirements of the importers. We have been collaborating with the AFD and other French development agency to drive foreign investment.”