China has reinforced its position as Africa’s biggest lender for infrastructure financing. The Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim) has committed to major projects with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and with the Tanzanian government. A co-operation agreement with Afreximbank aims to create a US$1bn China-Africa investment and industrialisation programme to facilitate the construction and creation of industrial parks and special economic zones on the continent and to provide Africa with the capacity for light manufacturing and primary processing of raw materials and commodities.

A delegation of Chinese technical personnel will soon arrive in Bissau to begin a project to manufacture tractors and other agricultural machinery in Guinea-Bissau, said Beijing’s ambassador in the West African country. Wang Hua made his statement during a Friday ceremony during which he delivered to the Guinea-Bissauan government machinery and other goods meant to help produce rice, “so that the country can become self-sufficient in this cereal”.

The southwest Nigeria's state of Osun on Thursday said it has partner a Chinese firm to transform the state into hub of cocoa production. State governor Rauf Aregbesola made the remarks in Ede town during a facility tour of the resuscitated Cocoa Production Industry in partnership with Chinese Company, Golden Monkey of China. He said the state would soon become the hub of cocoa production in Nigeria with the revival of the moribund Osun Cocoa Production Industry.

Kenyan start-up, Wanda Organic has signed a deal with two global firms from the Philippines to set up an organic fertiliser manufacturing plant in Kenya. The two Philippines-based companies, ELR Family Trading Inc. and Richfund International will oversee the manufacture of Plantmate Bio-Organic Fertiliser in Kenya. "It's commendable to see more young Kenyans venture into agriculture and we are committed to supporting such initiatives" Agriculture Cabinet Secret art Willy Bett noted during the signing agreement on Monday, "the government will continue to support such ventures by the youth."

President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo in Brazzaville announced his country’s commitment to supporting the development of intra-African trade and industrialisation of the continent. President Nguesso, who was speaking in his office on 29 March 2016, when he presented the instrument of ratification of Congo’s accession to the Establishment Agreement of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to Dr Benedict Oramah, President of the Bank, says that Congo would support Afreximbank’s strategy to increase trade among African countries and industrialise Africa.

In December 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping flew into South Africa for the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation with great fanfare. There were lots of announcements about prospective investments across Africa. Agriculture featured prominently. But what is the real story of China in Africa on the ground, beyond the hype? As Deborah Brautigam’s investigative research has so effectively shown, the assumptions about China’s role in Africa are often not borne out in reality. The level of investment and linked aid flows are much lower than the high numbers sometimes touted; the numbers of imported Chinese workers are much lower than often suggested; the areas of land “grabbed” for investment are small compared to the vast areas identified by some.

Food For The Poor is working with Taiwan’s Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation to plant 10,000 fruit-bearing trees on the campuses of 60 primary and secondary schools across the Caribbean country of St. Lucia. In addition to the fruit trees, Food For The Poor also will build 20 greenhouses to assist 20 basic schools with their individual feeding programs. “St. Lucia is a beautiful mountainous island and Food For The Poor is honored to be a part of this tree planting project that will provide additional nourishment for students and a source of revenue for local famers,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor.

The partnership between India and Africa is rapidly evolving. India and Africa have tieup as key partners for the global food security with the change of global landscape for agriculture and food. According to India Inc, India’s experience benefits Africa’s agriculture as Africa’s farm sector estimated to grow to $1 trillion by 2030. A Didar Singh, the secretary general of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) said that India needs a renovation and look for consumers whereas the African continent offers one of the most unexploited markets, in a forward to a global accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report on agricultural partnership between India and the 54­nation.

Agriculture has been identified by Africa as a priority development area in the China-Africa strategic partnership. The agricultural sector is regarded as an engine for socio-economic development in most African countries. According to the African Union (AU), agriculture accounts for about one-third of the continent’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and more than two-thirds of its citizens rely directly on the sector for their livelihood. Cognisant of the important role of agriculture in the development agenda, Africa is redoubling its efforts to invest more in the sector and boost production.

Since the launch of its ‘go out’ policy in 1999, China has positioned itself not only as Africa’s largest trade partner but also as its largest investor. In the water sector, Chinese companies and banks are now the biggest builders and financiers of global hydropower dams. Moreover, China has increasingly begun to implement other water-related projects, including the construction of water treatment stations and water supply projects across Africa. Chinese companies’ competitive advantage to win tenders, largely due to the financial and political support of Beijing’s institutions (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim Bank), China Development Bank), plays an important role in increasing China’s footprint in Africa.