IFADC PRESENTATION ON PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS BY AHMADOU DANPOULO BABA

PARTNERS IN THE PROJECT Imperial Foods is a privately owned and funded company based in Douala, Cameroon and I am the owner and operator. This public-private partnership is an ongoing collaboration between Imperial Foods, USDA/FAS, IRD, USWA and WISSH.

GENESIS AND AIMS OF IMPERIAL FOODS In 2004, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) commissioned a feasibility study to test the potential for noodle production and consumption in western Africa. Following the study, USWA contacted me to set up a processing unit to make fortified noodles. Today, Imperial Foods has built the first noodle plant in Africa that offers micro and macro fortified food in a free trade zone.

USDA/FAS’S ROLE The Noodle Project helps achieve FAS' goals and mission by: Expanding global markets for US commodities as inputs into noodle products Enhancing nutrition intake of African women, children and people with AIDS And establishing a locally processed food product that can be used by PVOs in feeding programs.

IRD’S ROLE IRD pioneered the noodle food assistance with USDA with their Indonesia program between 1999 and This project created thousands of jobs in private companies. IRD replicated this project in Cambodia in 2005 under a Food For Progress program. IRD is offering technical assistance to Imperial Foods to perfect its formulation and devise a marketing strategy for noodles especially regarding sales with the regional PVO community.

US WHEAT SUPPORT USWA arranged for me to visit Nigerian flour millers and noodle plants. USWA put me in contact with Wheat Marketing Center for noodle formulation. USWA and WMC arranged for me to visit China to select the equipment manufacturer. USWA will organize training of Imperial Foods personnel as soon as we are operational.

A FEW FACTS ABOUT IMPERIAL FOODS

Production capacity 100,000,000 bags Total Women employed 120 women Direct Job Creation 150 Indirect job creation - Mainly on the local market for noodle distribution - Women groups and associations (cassava flour producers) Over 1,000 jobs Geographic scope West and Central Africa Total production in tons 9,000 tons of noodles

A PERFECT WIN-WIN FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED

USDA FAS achieves its mission: promote US farm products and fight hunger in the world. US farmers export more than 100,000 of wheat flour and tons of soy flour over 10 years. African farmers sell 10,000 tons of cassava. Figures are based on existing production line, however, Imperial Foods intends to have three lines installed by 2015.

PVOs get access to fortified and nutritious food close to their zone of operations. African consumers improve their diet through the fortification and save on food budget. Private investors make a good return on their money allowing them to invest more on noodles and expand capacities.

OUR FINAL OBJECTIVE Photo : Anne Dudte / USDA FEASIBILITY STUDY IN SENEGAL

THANKS PATRICIA SHEIKH LILIANA BACHELDER PEGGY SHEEHAN GERALD THEUS JIM HERSHEY