Arla leaders urge Sweden to tap into West Africa’s agricultural boom for sustainable growth.
Arla’s representatives, Anna Månsson (Head of West Africa) and Cecilia Kocken (CEO of Arla Sweden), have published an opinion piece in ‘Dagens Industri’ urging Swedish companies and Business Sweden not to overlook growth opportunities in West Africa. They emphasize that food production and agriculture are essential to Africa’s development and are top priorities for many African governments.
Business Sweden recently encouraged Swedish companies to explore the African market due to its high population growth and demand for sustainable solutions. While Business Sweden highlighted six promising sectors, Månsson and Kocken argue that agriculture and food should also be prioritized. Arla has a growing presence in West Africa, including Nigeria, where they have established a modern dairy farm that promotes local, sustainable dairy production to meet the country’s demand for nutritious, safe foods.
The recent visit of Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, who has an agricultural background, to Sweden highlights Nigeria’s interest in developing its agriculture to support its growing population.
They call on the Swedish government to emphasize food exportation in its upcoming food strategy update. Arla and other major players have proposed a new export strategy for Sweden’s food sector, highlighting that Swedish food exports to growth regions like West Africa could advance sustainable global development and benefit Swedish businesses.
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