News in brief: Sunil Bharti Mittal, Indian billionaire businessman, emphasised Africa’s significance in enhancing the global food ecosystem by advocating for increased agricultural efforts on the continent to address worldwide food challenges.
Indian billionaire businessman and chairperson of Bharti Enterprises, Sunil Bharti Mittal, has highlighted the importance of Africa in improving global food ecosystem.
He said the continent should be the focus of agriculture endeavours as it could change the world and that integrating Africa in global economy is paramount.
Bharti is also the Chair of B20 India Action Council on African Economic Integration, the official G20 dialogue forum which leads the process of galvanising global business leaders for their views on issues of global economic and trade governance.
He noted his country’s efforts to deeply engage with world leaders to make the African Union (AU) a permanent member of the G20 and hopes it happens within the year.
The Indian billionaire cited Africa’s fertile, which could grow any food planted in it, as one of the reasons why it is vital to global food production. Also, with the world going through food production and supply crisis as well as rising prices, Bharti said that African and other poorer countries are suffering the most.
According to him, a small portion of Africa’s uncultivated arable land can change the world’s food situation. Thus, he is calling for investments in the continent to diversify supply and value chains and create assured and relatively shockproof international economy.
He pointed out challenges in the sector on the continent, such as a gap in finance and key inputs such as fertilisers and seeds. The billionaire recommended training and educating farmers while increasing mechanisation, along with the introducing sustainable and value-added businesses in the sector.
Sunil Bharti Mittal’s business empire covers telecom, insurance, real estate, education, malls, hospitality, Agriculture and more. In 2023, he was ranked the 10th richest person in India by Forbes, with an estimated net worth of US$14.8 billion.
