The OPEC Fund for International Development and the Trade and Development Bank Group have joined the Alliance for Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, reinforcing efforts to accelerate agro-industrialisation across Africa. Launched at the 2023 Africa Investment Forum in Marrakech, Morocco, the Alliance combines financing, technical expertise, and private sector engagement to scale agricultural value-chain development throughout the continent.
The inclusion of the OPEC Fund and TDB Group builds on the strong foundation established by existing members, which include the African Development Bank Group, the Islamic Development Bank Group, Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms, African Export-Import Bank, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, the West African Development Bank, and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.
The platform brings together public, private, and development partners to close Africa’s agricultural investment gap by expanding Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ). These zones leverage coordinated financing, shared infrastructure, targeted incentives, and structured value chain linkages to enhance competitiveness, reduce investor risks, and attract sustained private capital.
Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank Group, highlighted that the Alliance will intensify efforts to mobilise co-financiers to accelerate SAPZ implementation, advancing the Bank’s key priorities: unlocking Africa’s capital through blended finance, strengthening food systems, promoting youth and women’s participation, and delivering integrated, resilient infrastructure.
Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones play a central role in Africa’s agricultural transformation by linking smallholder farmers to structured value chains, processing facilities, and consumer markets. This approach enables countries to move beyond primary commodity exports toward higher-value agro-industrial production.
To date, the African Development Bank has committed approximately $934 million to develop over two dozen SAPZ in 11 countries, which has already leveraged an additional $938 million in co-financing from partners.
TDB Group President Admassu Tadesse expressed anticipation for deepening collaboration with Alliance partners to scale bankable agro-industrial opportunities. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, President of the OPEC Fund, noted that the Fund’s Food Security Action Plan aligns with the Alliance’s objectives, emphasizing the partnership as a strategic opportunity to accelerate sustainable agricultural and agro-industrial development across Africa.
By joining the Alliance, the OPEC Fund and TDB Group will contribute to mobilising blended finance and catalytic capital for SAPZ development, supporting project preparation and risk-mitigation tools, strengthening value chains, and promoting job creation and rural industrialisation.
With this expanded partnership, the African Development Bank encourages governments, anchor investors, SMEs, farmers’ organizations, and technical partners to leverage the opportunities created by the strengthened Alliance as it rolls out the next generation of SAPZ across Africa.
