In a bold and strategic move to revitalize Ethiopia’s agricultural and agro-processing sector, Ethiopian Trading and Business Corporation (ETBC), Soy Afric, and Kazana Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaboratively enhance food production, processing, and export. The agreement marks a strong commitment among the three entities to work toward a shared goal: strengthening the country’s food chain from farm to market while delivering meaningful benefits to smallholder farmers and the national economy.
The partnership reflects a synergy of complementary strengths. ETBC will take the lead in mobilizing and supporting smallholder farmers by providing access to quality inputs, while also helping navigate regulatory processes to ensure smooth project rollout. Soy Afric brings decades of experience in soybean processing and will offer technical expertise, buy-back arrangements, training, and post-harvest handling solutions to guarantee quality and efficiency.
Meanwhile, Kazana Group will provide essential expertise in investment capital, support the establishment of strategic partnerships, and open channels to regional and international markets for Ethiopian soy-based products, while overseeing the business development and strategic growth of the plant. Together, the three partners envision a practical and scalable model that elevates productivity, enhances market competitiveness, and ensures long-term sustainability for all players in the ecosystem.
Central to this collaboration is the empowerment of smallholder farmers, who stand to gain from new opportunities for growth, income stability, and technical capacity. By shifting from subsistence farming to structured contract farming, the initiative will enable farmers to become part of a structured, value-added supply chain. This approach is designed not only to increase yields, but also to provide predictable demand, improved farm gate prices, and access to financial and agronomic support services. Beyond the economic benefits, the program is also expected to contribute to food security, job creation, and rural development by embedding resilience and innovation at every stage of the value chain.
The partners plan to implement the initiative in phases, beginning with targeted pilot projects that will be closely monitored and refined before expanding to larger regions. The MoU lays the foundation for deeper collaboration, including the development of more formal agreements that will govern financing, roles, and responsibilities as the program progresses.
This partnership comes at a critical time for Ethiopia, as the country seeks to diversify its agricultural exports, enhance agro-industrial performance, and create inclusive economic growth opportunities.
The signing of this MoU signals a shared determination to unlock Ethiopia’s agricultural potential by aligning vision with action and represents a powerful model for development-led agribusiness in Ethiopia.
