NABC

🛍️ More than a mall. A power source. A workplace. A lifeline. Across African cities, shopping malls do far more than retail. They're where communities access healthcare, logistics, jobs and increasingly, reliable electricity. For Novare Holdings Group, that's the point. In markets where grid power runs just a few hours a day, Novare is turning malls into energy solutions, starting with rooftop solar, moving to storage, and ultimately feeding surplus power back into surrounding communities. "The first phase is to make our malls energy resilient," says Anton van der Vijver, Managing Director of Novare Europe. "The next phase is to reduce diesel dependency. And ultimately, where possible, to supply surplus power back to surrounding communities." This is what sustainable investment looks like when it's not abstract: capital that shows up, stays operational, and powers daily life. 📖 Read the full story, Building More Than Malls, on page 10 of our digital magazine, Capital in Motion: www.nabc.nl/news/ #ConfidenceinAfricanBusiness #InspireConnectEnable #CapitalinMotion #ReadontheGo

One month later, and we're still clucking about the Poultry Trade Mission to the Netherlands! 🐔🇳🇱 We asked three of our 15 delegates about their experience and highlights of the trade mission and the excitement is very much mutual. From forging strong connections with Dutch partners, to sparking follow-up conversations that are already in motion, to hands-on training at Aeres Training Centre and fresh insights into best practices in poultry farming - our delegates came back with more than just memories. They came back with tools, ideas, and partnerships ready to be put into action back home. A huge thank you to Olufemi Adelayo (Facco West Africa ltd (Poultry Equipment)), Aïcha Ouattara Coulibaly (Foani International Training College), and Malick Haidara (TechnoServe) for taking the time to share their reflections with us. 🙏 📖 Curious who else joined the mission? Check out the delegate brochure: https://lnkd.in/e3X-WCDb This mission was made possible thanks to the incredible support of VIV worldwide, Aeres Training Centre, Netherlands Food Partnership, and TechnoServe via BeniPoul programme funded by the Ambassade du Royaume des Pays-Bas au Bénin. For visual recap of the Mission, visit: https://lnkd.in/eTvshcPn #ConfidenceinAfricanBusiness #InspireConnectEnable #PoultryFarming #VIVEurope2026

We were delighted to welcome H.E. Dr. Alfredo Tjiurimo Hengari, Namibian Ambassador to the Netherlands, for a meeting with our Managing Director, Ms. Núria Vlonk-Cunha Soares. At the heart of our discussion: how to deepen the agricultural and agribusiness ties between Namibia and the Netherlands. From investment opportunities and knowledge exchange to connecting Namibian stakeholders with Dutch businesses and research institutions, we explored the full breadth of what closer collaboration could look like. Namibia has clear ambitions for its agricultural sector, and the Netherlands brings world-class expertise, technology, and a genuine appetite for partnership. We look forward to building on this dialogue and turning last week's conversation into concrete opportunities for both sides. 🌍 #ConfidenceinAfricanBusiness #InspireConnectEnable #DoingBusinessinNamibia

From Cairo to the Dutch greenhouse - 18 Egyptian innovators came to see the future of agri-food, and they found it. The NABC was proud to support an inspiring trade mission bringing 18 Egyptian start-ups and delegates to the Netherlands as part of the Orange Corners Egypt programme, in partnership with Outreach Egypt (Consultancy for Development), expertly coordinated by our very own Nazly Abd El Rahman. The week opened with a dinner hosted by H.E. Emad Hanna and Ms. Mariham Youssef of the Egyptian Embassy in The Hague; a warm and fitting launch to seven days of exploration, exchange, and inspiration. From there, the delegation went deep into the heart of Dutch innovation: 🌱 Wageningen University & Research: world-leading agri-food science 🥗 Rijk Zwaan & Delphy: cutting-edge seed development and horticultural expertise 🍅 Tomatoworld: center for innovation in Dutch greenhouse horticultur 💐 Royal FloraHolland: the world's largest flower auction 📦 Royal LC Packaging & Spaak Circular Solutions B.V.: sustainable packaging and circular economy in action 🔬 Normec Groen Agro Control: food safety and quality assurance 🚀 RDM Innovation Dock: a powerhouse of entrepreneurship and tech 🛰️ eLEAF: satellite data driving smarter agriculture The Netherlands punches far above its weight as an agricultural powerhouse, the world's second-largest food exporter despite being one of its smallest countries. This mission was about connecting that expertise with Egypt's next generation of agri-food entrepreneurs. Special thanks to Dalia EL Nazer, Heba El Rifai, Carol Philip and the whole Outreach Egypt (Consultancy for Development) team for making this mission possible. #ConfidenceinAfricanBusiness #InspireConnectEnable #NextGenofInnovators

What if water scarcity, energy constraints, and food insecurity weren't separate issues but one interconnected challenge with one powerful solution? Last week's webinar on the Energy-Water-Agri Nexus co-organised by the NABC and BusinessNL - ZA showed us exactly that. Here are the highlights 👇 🇿🇦 Ambassador Mr. Vusi Madonsela framed water-energy-food as a national priority, spotlighting solar-powered irrigation, the Agri Energy Fund, and a new Horticultural Centre in Stellenbosch driving jobs and sustainable SA-NL trade. 🇳🇱 From Kruger Canyon to Olifants-Doring, Dutch-led projects are already balancing water between agriculture, nature, and communities, with local communities at the helm. 🌵 OPUS Cactus® | B Corp™ is pioneering non-irrigated Opuntia cactus farming in semi-arid regions, creating jobs for smallholders while using virtually no water. Priva is bringing precision agriculture and climate-control tech to scale responsibly. 💰 FMO - Dutch entrepreneurial development bank's Ms. Teresa le Roux reminded us that early-stage projects need tailored funding to reach scale; should be commercially viable AND aligned with South Africa's regulatory landscape. "No single actor can solve this alone." The message was clear: real resilience comes from technology + finance + policy + implementation working together. Missed it? No worries, you can watch the webinar via https://lnkd.in/efBjadYQ Special thanks to our speakers H.E. Mr. Vusi Madonsela (Embassy of South Africa in the Netherlands), Ms. Masooma Yousufzai - van der Kleij and Mr. Bernard Likalimba (Netherlands Embassy and Consulate in South Africa), Mr. Auke Boere (Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) | Partner in Sustainable Development), Mr. Daniel Viviers-Rasmussen (NewForesight), Mr. Jan-Willem Kruijt (OPUS Cactus® | B Corp™), and Ms. Teresa le Roux (FMO - Dutch entrepreneurial development bank) for their contribution to this very important and timely discussion. #ConfidenceinAfricanBusiness #InspireConnectEnable #SustainableAgriculture #ClimateSmartAgriculture #SouthAfrica

As part of the Poultry Trade Mission to the Netherlands ahead of VIV Europe, delegates from #Nigeria, #CôtedIvoire, #Cameroon, #Benin, #Uganda, #Zimbabwe, and the #DRC came together for an intensive training day on poultry production, bringing seven countries, one shared agenda. The day opened with a warm welcome from Mr. Helmich van Rees, who introduced Aeres Training Centre's mission and distinctive approach: grounding every training in solid theory while bringing it to life through hands-on demonstrations and practical application. Helmich also provided a comprehensive overview of the latest innovations shaping the poultry sector here in the Netherlands - an inspiring starting point for delegates looking to bring new insights back to their home markets. Following a facility tour and lunch, the afternoon deepened into the topics that matter most on the ground: 🦠 Animal health: josje hakker led delegates through the evolving landscape of poultry health, covering the role of digitalisation and AI in modern animal health management, the effects of climate change on disease patterns, key poultry diseases and how to recognise them, and best practices in prevention and vaccination. 🌾 Nutrition & feed management: Johan Hissink rounded off the day with a practical deep-dive into feed requirements, animal nutrition principles, and hands-on guidance for feed calculation, equipping delegates with tools they can apply immediately. A sincere thank you to the entire Aeres Training Centre team, and a special word of gratitude to Teus Korevaar for making this training possible. Your expertise and hospitality made for a truly impactful day. For the visual recap of the mission, visit: https://lnkd.in/eTvshcPn #ConfidenceinAfricanPoultry #InspireConnectEnable #VIVEurope2026

Spreadsheets? Swapped. Kitchen? Taken over. Meals? Perfect 🤌 The NABC team went Korean-inspired for our latest team building, and it turns out that we’re just as good at cooking as we are at collaborating. Huge thanks to the KiCo team for the experience and to Benji for the moral support 🙌 #teambuilding #goodfoodgoodteam #kitchentakeover #confidenceinafricanbusiness

The incoming Poultry Trade Mission to the Netherlands took us to Eindhoven and Hapert for two inspiring visits to fellow Dutch Africa Poultry Platform members: VDL Agrotech and The Schippers Group. VDL Agrotech - part of the broader VDL Groep, a family-owned industrial powerhouse - welcomed delegates into their world of precision poultry housing systems. The team walked us through the full range of laying hen and broiler production solutions, with a particular focus on feeding and drinking systems designed for efficiency, biosecurity, and ease of maintenance. Standout details included feeders engineered to distribute feed across an entire house in under three minutes, red-coloured trays that exploit chickens' natural colour attraction, and a clever lighting trick above the first feeder that ensures feed is consumed in sequence, minimising waste. The session also covered vaccination management, with a frank discussion on how every injection adds stress and costs, reinforcing the case for well-planned, manufacturer-approved vaccination programmes over improvised combinations. The Schippers Group in Hapert brought a different but equally compelling perspective, grounded in their core philosophy: it starts with prevention. The visit explored how biosecurity and hygiene are the real drivers of farm performance. Delegates heard in detail about water quality management, including the hidden threat of biofilm in drinking lines and practical solutions such as hydrogen peroxide and chlorine dioxide treatments. The team was candid about the particular challenges facing African producers, from unreliable water access to the need for digital tools that make cleaning and sanitation processes easier to monitor and verify. The overarching message was clear: lower pathogen pressure means better feed conversion, improved animal welfare, and reduced reliance on medication. Special thanks to Patrick Van Trijp, Victor Lesbros, and Erik Sanders from VDL Agrotech and Sjoerd Wijnen, Dominique Laureijs, and Johan Verhoek of The Schippers Group for their warm hospitality and the quality of their presentations - practical, applicable, and clearly delivered with the African context in mind. We look forward to seeing new partnerships emerge from this mission. Curious who joined the trade mission? View the official delegate brochure via https://lnkd.in/e3X-WCDb. For photos from the Poultry Trade Mission to the Netherlands, visit the official album via https://lnkd.in/eu8hKzKz. #ConfidenceinAfricanBusiness #Poultry #InspireConnectEnable #TradeMission #VIVEurope2026

Water, energy, and food don't exist in silos, and neither should the solutions. 🌊⚡🌾 South Africa's agricultural sector feeds millions, yet faces mounting pressure: 61% of freshwater goes to agriculture, post-harvest losses persist, and smallholder farmers remain on the margins. At the same time, the Just Energy Transition is opening new doors, from agri-voltaics to green hydrogen. The Netherlands and South Africa are uniquely positioned to tackle these challenges together. The Netherlands is South Africa's largest EU investor (17.7% of FDI) and brings world-class expertise in precision farming, water-efficient technology, and circular value chains. Join the NABC and BusinessNL - ZA on the 18th of June, from 10:00-11:30 AM CEST, as Dutch and South African experts explore the energy–water–agriculture nexus and identify where real partnership opportunities lie. Register today via https://lnkd.in/d4wriS6B and hear from: 🎤 H.E. Mr. Vusi Madonsela, Ambassador, Embassy of South Africa in the Netherlands; 🎤 Mr. Jock Geselschap, Deputy Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Africa; 🎤 Mr. Auke Boere, Senior Business Developer Africa, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) | Partner in Sustainable Development; 🎤 Mr. Daniel Viviers-Rasmussen, Domain Lead, NewForesight; 🎤 Mr. Jan-Willem Kruijt, Business Developer, OPUS Cactus® | B Corp™; 🎤 Ms. Maud Vievermans, General Manager, BusinessNL - ZA View the full programme via https://lnkd.in/epxpdVGw #ConfidenceinAfricanBusiness #InspireConnectEnable #SouthAfrica #EnergyWaterAgriNexus