East Agri Network transforming agriculture in agribusiness example

“East. Agri Network: transforming agriculture in agribusiness - example of successful FAO-CEI collaboration” Nada Zvekic (FAO) and Adrian Keler (CEI) Meeting of CEI WG on Agriculture Rome, 22 May 2006

reminding East. Agri’s raison d’être achievements since last year

what is East. Agri? network of practitioners involved in agribusiness & agricultural investment from: • IFIs • donors • private banks

why East. Agri? improve exchange of information share lessons learned coordinate policy messages coordinate interventions

key members

geographic coverage • initially: • CEI countries target: all EBRD countries of operation

how does it work? a light structure. . . • dedicated website • annual East. Agri meetings • thematic meetings/workshops … operated by FAO

members’ benefits - easier access to information - advertise events / publication - access to performance of past projects and lessons learned - more impact on policy matters

website maintenance • maintenance of database (550 projects, 24 subsectors) • 220, 000 hits in 2005 (100, 000 pageviews) • 45 articles dispatched

thematic meetings • Serbia agribusiness seminar • rural credit guarantee schemes • Polish/Ukrainian wholesale markets • Georgia wine sector

our goals? • encourage information sharing • cross-fertilization of ideas • suggestions for next phases

“CEI support to Wholesale Markets Development in Ukraine” Activities • Study tour in Italy (focused on ITALY legislative and other public support mechanisms) • Study tour in Poland (focused on the involvement of private stakeholders in the process of wholesale markets development) UKRAINE POLAND • Advisory services by Italian, Polish and FAO consultants

“CEI support to Wholesale Markets Development in Ukraine” Multi-partner action! Implementation: • October 2005 – May 2006 Planned results: • Improvement of the quality of Ukraine’s wholesale markets investment plan Follow-up: • The investment plan to be financed under World Bank’s ACSF (“Agricultural Competitiveness and Food Safety”) project.

KEP: planned projects

“Building Effective Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Quality Control System in Moldova” • Technical assistance to be provided by the State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic. • Focus on harmonisation of fruit national standards and establishment of efficient national quality control structures in accordance with EU principles. • Implementation of marketing quality criteria for domestic and imported fruit and vegetables and food safety criteria for food products, including application of worldwide recognised standards and norms.

. . . some figures • KEP grants (approved and planned for 2006): € 250, 000 • Total projects value: € 790, 000

More information available at: www. eastagri. org www. ceinet. org Thank you for your attention! Nada Zvekic FAO Investment Center Division Tel. +39 06 5705 5474 E-mail: nada. zvekic@fao. org Adrian Keler Secretariat for CEI Projects Tel. +39 040 7786 732 E-mail: keler@cei-es. org