Mr. Amadou Diallo, the ambassador of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) in Senegal, on Monday urged member states to reform their tax codes, noting that this could possibly impact the growth and increase “agricultural productivity.”African countries need to undertake tax reforms to increase agricultural productivity and boost growth. These must be able to woo more investors," Ambassador Diallo said.

He was speaking at the opening of the first meeting of the Facilitation Platform for agricultural investments in Senegal, a forum that brings together financial and development partners, including commercial banks, development finance institutions, microfinance institutions, agricultural banks and investment funds.

This meeting aims to facilitate and promote public-private dialogue to improve agricultural finance policies, provide financing opportunities for SMEs and create public-private national community.

Senegal was chosen from five countries (Zambia, Uganda, Ghana and Cameroon) to host the inaugural session. The meeting is placed under the aegis of the Ministries of Economy and Agriculture.

Furthermore, the NEPAD ambassador urged African countries to meet the Malabo commitment consisting of allocating 10 percent of state budgets to agriculture.

Source: APA