Kozachenko: Morocco Has Influence and Financial Capacity to Host Ukrainian Agricultural Hub

Leonid Kozachenko, the head of the Ukrainian Agricultural Union, has pointed out that while Ukraine is expanding its agricultural presence in Africa, Morocco would have been a more strategically sound location for a new Agrohub than Ghana. Speaking on Ukrainian radio, Kozachenko noted that Ghana, situated in West Africa, contends with significant internal conflicts and inter-state rivalries, making it a less stable choice compared to North Africa.

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Ghana is located in the western part of Africa, and it is objectively a very complex region that experiences internal conflicts and contradictions between countries.

Kozachenko recalled that Morocco had previously offered to host such a center, possessing both the financial clout and regional influence to manage the distribution of Ukrainian grain to other African nations. This would have allowed Ukraine to focus on production, knowing that a reliable partner was handling the logistical and market risks. While the establishment of the hub in Ghana is still a step forward, Kozachenko stresses the importance of continuous expansion and developing mechanisms for our presence in this vital market.

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Morocco had previously offered to establish such a strong center on its territory, and the Moroccans were ready to buy Ukrainian grain and agricultural products and distribute them themselves to other African countries, bearing all the risks, due to their financial capabilities and regional influence.

Africa presents a complex but crucial market, being the continent most severely affected by food shortages, with tens of thousands dying daily from hunger. Ukraine, producing five times more food than it consumes, sees significant potential not only to save lives but also to achieve substantial economic gains by increasing its market share. However, the path has been fraught with difficulties, including political instability, lack of the rule of law, piracy, and non-payment for goods, leading to significant losses for Ukrainian businesses.

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Africa is a complex region, but at the same time, it is the continent most suffering from food shortages in the world; more than 25,000 people die daily around the world from hunger, and the largest share of these victims are in African countries.

Furthermore, Kozachenko observes that competitors like Russia have made strong inroads into the African market. To succeed, Ukraine must adopt a different strategy, involving international institutions like the UN's FAO and global financial bodies to guarantee the security of trade operations. He also advocates for a shift from merely exporting raw materials to exporting value-added products, citing Turkey and the UAE as examples of successful models that process and re-export agricultural goods, generating far greater revenue than Ukraine currently does with its raw grain exports.

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Ukraine produces five times more food than it consumes locally. Therefore, expanding our presence in the African market represents saving lives and enormous economic prospects at the same time.