Zambian-born CEO Praises Agribusiness Potential Of Zambia’s Soya

Brian Malambo, CEO of private equity firm Monter Capital, has highlighted the agribusiness opportunities in Africa, and singled out soya bean processing in Zambia as one of the biggest.

Monter Capital recently reached the first close of its $100 million private equity fund that aims to support agribusiness, financial services and clean energy firms in sub-Saharan Africa. One target sector is agri-processing, especially firms producing food products with the capacity to export a share of product to neighbouring countries.

Mr. Malambo stressed the investor potential in the processing of soya beans into cooking oil, soya flour, and soya cake – a byproduct of soya oil extraction that is used as animal feed. Malambo elaborated that Zambia could meet Tanzania’s demand for all three products.

Monter Capital’s CEO also identified the promise of maize meal, a dietary staple and main ingredient for traditional porridges in Zimbabwe, Zambia and East Africa. A primary beneficiary of Zambian maize meal would be the Democratic Republic of Congo, says Mr. Malambo, a neighbour with an underdeveloped agricultural sector.

Mr. Malambo said that Zambia’s debt restructuring, generous repayment schedule and International Monetary Fund are a “breakthrough for Zambia”, and a reason for investors to be excited about agribusiness. He noted that foreign investment in other sectors such as mining, manufacture and infrastructure have seen a strong increase in interest.