— Speaking at TICAD9 Seminar: “Public-Private-Producers Partnership for Enhanced Food Security – Unlocking Potential through Joint Investment in Africa’s Rural Economy” —
Rwanda Nut Company Ltd. (Headquarters: Rwanda, Managing Director: Momoko Harada) and OSTI Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President & CEO: Hideya Komori) (*) are pleased to announce their participation in the second project under the “Enhanced Linkages between Private Sector and Smallholders” (ELPS) initiative. This initiative is jointly implemented by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), funded through MAFF’s contribution to IFAD.
*Both companies are group members of AAIC.
About the ELPS Initiative
The ELPS initiative, launched in 2024 by MAFF and IFAD, aims to foster collaboration between the public and private sectors and smallholder farmers. It seeks to boost agricultural productivity and sustainability in partner countries while increasing incomes for small-scale producers. For Japan, the initiative also supports food security through stable imports and diversification of supply sources.
Following the first ELPS project in Tanzania—focused on sustainable coffee production led by Marubeni Corporation and UCC Ueshima Coffee Co., Ltd.—this Rwanda-based project is the second case under the ELPS framework.
- Project Overview
- ●Project Name: Strengthening the Macadamia Nut Value Chain in Rwanda (ELPS Project No.2)
- ●Project Goal: Build an export-oriented, organically certified macadamia nut value chain in Rwanda
- ●Participating Companies: Rwanda Nut Company Ltd., / OSTI Japan Co., Ltd.
- ●Support Period: Two years, starting in 2026
TICAD9 Seminar Highlights
In connection with the project, a special seminar was held at TICAD9 (The 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development), co-hosted by IFAD and MAFF.
- Seminar Title:
- -Public-Private-Producers Partnership for Enhanced Food Security – Unlocking Potential through Joint Investment in Africa’s Rural Economy
- -ELPS Initiative: Launch of Macadamia Nut Value Chain Strengthening Intervention in Rwanda
- Date & Time: Friday, August 22, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
- Venue: Pacifico Yokohama (Yokohama, Japan)
Representatives from both ELPS projects (Tanzania and Rwanda) participated in the panel. From the AAIC Group, Hideya Komori (President & CEO, OSTI Japan) and Kwizera Olivier (Sustainable Agriculture & Certification Coordinator, Rwanda Nut) presented on the current status and future prospects of macadamia farming in Rwanda.
Following the seminar, Yoshiyuki Mizouchi (Senior Operations Manager, TANJA / OSTI Japan) joined the press session to respond to media inquiries and further elaborate on the initiative’s goals and impact.
[Photos from the Seminar:Left: Presentation by Komori / Right: Presentation by Olivier