The creation of the first Ukrainian agro-hub in Ghana is a positive step toward expanding Ukraine’s presence in the African market. However, to consolidate its position in the region, Ukraine needs to involve international financial institutions as security guarantors and move from exporting raw materials to supplying higher value-added products, said President of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation (UAC) Leonid Kozachenko.
“Africa is a difficult region, but at the same time it is the continent suffering the most from food shortages in the world. Ukraine produces five times more food than it consumes itself. Therefore, expanding our presence in the African market means both saving lives and creating enormous economic opportunities,” he said on Ukrainian Radio.
According to him, previous attempts by Ukrainian businesses to invest in production in Africa or independently supply grain often ended in financial losses and cases of piracy due to political instability. To minimize such risks, Kozachenko proposes involving UN structures, particularly the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), as well as global financial institutions that could act as intermediaries and guarantors of trade operations.
Currently, the share of Ukrainian goods in total imports of African countries is less than 5%. To increase volumes, the expert recommends using the experience of Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, which supply processed goods rather than raw materials—such as flour, pasta, and cereals.
In Kozachenko’s view, the state’s strategic goal over the next 10 years should be to attract about $85–90 billion in investments into domestic processing. This would allow Ukraine to increase annual agricultural exports from the current $27 billion to more than $120 billion.
Assessing the hub’s location, the head of the UAC noted that West Africa is a challenging region due to internal conflicts. He considers North Africa, particularly Morocco, a more promising direction for logistics centers, due to its more stable economy and its potential to serve as a distribution hub for the entire continent.
