FMO, BII, Proparco Back Robust International With $90M

STARTUP VENTURE CAPITALNovember 28, 2024 at 12:57 PM UTC

TLDR

FMO, BII, Proparco, and ILX invest $90 million in Robust International, a Singapore-based agri-commodity trader sourcing from East and West Africa.
Funding supports Robust's shift to an integrated supply chain model and direct purchases from farmers in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, and Mozambique.
Investment aims to boost Robust's processing capacity, drive African agricultural sector growth, and benefit smallholder farmers in the region.

FMO, British International Investment (BII), Proparco, and Dutch fund manager ILX have announced a $90 million working capital facility for Robust International, a Singapore-based agri-commodity trader specializing in sesame and cashew nuts.

Founded in 2006, Robust sources primarily from East and West Africa, conducting early-stage processing operations for global markets. The funding will support the company’s transition to an integrated supply chain model, enabling direct purchases from cooperatives, aggregators, and farmers in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, and Mozambique.

This investment aims to enhance Robust’s processing capabilities while driving economic growth in Africa’s agricultural sector. It will help channel US dollar liquidity from agricultural exports into local economies, creating new opportunities for smallholder farmers.

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Key Takeaways

This partnership underscores the critical role of agriculture in Africa’s economies and highlights the importance of integrating local farmers into global supply chains. By supporting Robust’s operations, the $90 million facility strengthens local processing capacity and fosters economic inclusion and sustainable growth in key agricultural markets.

Finance

Proparco

DFI

BII

FMO

Investments

Agriculture