CHOGM 2022 Kigali

I am currently driving private capital into agricultural finance, initially developing dairying systems in sub-Saharan Africa following the work of Royal Jersey Agricultural & Horticultural Society and Jersey Overseas Aid. Initiatives like this will contribute to stabilising global food supplies and increase continental self-reliance. As a result of this, and the kind invitation from Jersey Finance to promote our island, I was able to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government in Kigali last week. A fantastically well-organised event with a particular mention to the team at Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council and Lord Marland who went the extra mile to deliver.

“And as I go tomorrow night to the G7 in Germany we will also commit to looking at what more richer countries can do to bring down global commodity prices and increase food supplies to get the world economy back on track and stick up for the freedoms in which we all believe.”

Listening to Boris Johnson announce commonwealth financing plans at the event, I felt he missed an opportunity to plug the role that private capital already plays in working to ease the trade finance gap. Kimura Capital LLP lends hundreds of millions to the global commodity supply chain from the UK, using Jersey domiciled vehicles for pension capital, financed by sophisticated investors looking to make a difference and a return. (Ask me for info on that)

Making a difference doesn’t have to be philanthropy, or come from government. I spoke to so many companies specifically looking for Equity investment rather than grants and handouts, which highlighted the scale of opportunity for innovative private capital on the African continent and in the nations of the Commonwealth. Grant aid funds ideas, private capital is the force multiplier to make sustainable, profitable business.

I’ll be posting pictures of cattle soon…
#sustainablefinance #dairy #dairyfarming #jersey #jerseycow #tradefinance #chogm22