The Agriculture Value Chain Development Project (AVDP) wrapped up a productive day-long workshop on August 10, 2023, at Albertson Kenema, Sierra Leone. The workshop focused on fostering business-to-business engagement within the cocoa and oil palm value chains.

The workshop brought together key stakeholders from across the value chains, including producers, processors, and financial institutions like Apex Bank, exporters, marketers, and buyers. The diverse group of participants shared their experiences and perspectives and discussed strategies for optimizing collaboration and fortifying the industry’s business landscape.

Representatives from the Technical Team in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security played a vital role in driving the workshop’s momentum forward. They passionately encouraged attendees to forge stronger bonds and align their efforts for collective success.

As the agriculture sector remains a cornerstone of economic development, these representatives stressed the importance of cohesive partnerships in ensuring the growth and sustainability of both the cocoa and oil palm industries.

The workshop’s focus on business-to-business interaction underscored the need for a comprehensive approach to driving these industries forward. Participants discussed everything from cultivation and processing to financial support and international trade.

The event was a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to share ideas and insights, and to build relationships that will help to strengthen the cocoa and oil palm sectors in Sierra Leone.

As the workshop came to a close, participants expressed their commitment to collaboration and to working together to create a thriving, interconnected agricultural ecosystem. They are confident that the insights and relationships developed during this workshop will help to lay the foundation for sustainable growth in the cocoa and oil palm sectors.