​Danish Ambassador: Africa's Rising Economies are Full of Opportunities ​

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​A2i Member Chosen for DI’s Christmas Calendar as a Leading Danish Business in East Africa​

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​New Delegation Strengthens Danish–Kenyan Dialogue on Sustainable Food and Agriculture​

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​"Context, Culture, and Respect are very Important"​

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​Merry Christmas from A2i​

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Africa is the continent of the future:

​Danish Ambassador: Africa's Rising Economies are Full of Opportunities ​

Can Danish companies make money in Africa?

Watch the Danish Ambassador, Signe Alberg Larsen, answer one of the most frequently asked questions from companies in this video from Impact Fund Denmark (formerly IFU): Can Danish companies make money in Africa?

Her message is clear: Africa is the continent of the future. It has rising economies full of opportunities for those who invest wisely and sustainably.

The ambassador shares her key pieces of advice for Danish companies looking to succeed in African markets:

1. Invest in mutually beneficial solutions. Focus on opportunities that create value for both Danish companies and the local markets you invest in.
2. Use the support tools available. Impact Fund Denmark (formerly IFU) and Danish embassies across Africa offer a range of instruments to help Danish companies enter African markets. Take the time to explore what’s available and align it with your business goals.
3. Find the right local partners. Strong partnerships on the ground are essential. Local partners bring invaluable market knowledge and can help navigate challenges along the way. Also in this, the Danish embassies can often help.

And then one more universally important thing: Have patience and passion. Success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, commitment, and the right resources to build lasting results.

​Watch the video.​

​A2i Member Chosen for DI’s Christmas Calendar as a Leading Danish Business in East Africa​

A2i member Engsko United Milling Systems has been selected for the Confederation of Danish Industry’s Christmas calendar — spotlighting Danish companies creating strong, sustainable impact in fast-growing markets. As an active member of Access2innovation (A2i), Engsko is highlighted as a representative of Danish business in East Africa, where the company has built a 20-year success story:

Two decades ago, Engsko established a factory in Ethiopia with support from Impact Fund Denmark. Today, local employees produce 20,000 sets of millstones annually — the core of Engsko’s work to improve access to nutritious flour products in the region.

CEO Henrik Wollesen explains the strategic decision behind producing locally:

“We knew that if we wanted to be serious in Africa, we couldn’t just export solutions — we had to produce locally. It was a major shift. We did it to stay close to our customers, but also to create something lasting.”

Half of the production is sold within Ethiopia, while the remainder is exported to the Middle East and neighbouring countries. The factory employs around 50 people — and impressively, it has seen almost no staff turnover.

“We haven’t had a single resignation in 20 years. It all comes down to training, fair pay, and treating people properly. That’s what builds loyalty,” Wollesen says.

Engsko’s long-standing local presence and commitment to building value on the ground exemplify the kind of impact DI aims to showcase in December. It demonstrates why A2i steadily works for partnerships for shared growth in Africa.

​Link to article (the original in Danish).​

​Link to article (in English).​

Our delegation to Kenya:

​Access2innovation Strengthens Danish–Kenyan Dialogue on Sustainable Food and Agriculture​

Access2innovation strengthened the dialogue between Danish and Kenyan actors during the delegation visit to Nairobi from 10–14 November. The programme included a tight schedule of meetings and talks on food and agriculture.

The delegation brought together Danbred, DACS, Cimbria, FOSS Analytics, Jimco, LINCO Incubator and Zealand Business College. According to Jeppe Søndergaard Pedersen from the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, the days offered “interesting talks, deals and cultural meetings.”

“This fourth visit to Kenya shows that both Kenyan and Danish Agriculture and Food companies see great potential for further collaboration – with a focus on producing more with less and making a more circular and sustainable economy,” he says.

“There are so many areas that Danish and Kenyan companies can benefit from cooperating. I see a huge potential for sales and contracts. We have only just started,” he adds.

In the next A2i Update, you can learn more about the concrete results from the trip for a Danish company.

​Read full story.​

​"Context, Culture, and Respect are very Important"​

Henrik Anker-Ladefoged, CEO at Access2innovation, recently visited the Copenhagen International Rotary Club.

Henrik unpacked the real business opportunities in Africa - and reminded the members of Rotary that the talent pipeline is shifting. In the coming years Europe will not only help Africa. Africa’s highly skilled professionals will help us.

The biggest takeaway for Rotary CPH was:

"When we go to Africa, we can’t just copy-paste what works in Denmark or Europe. Context, culture, and respect are not optional - they are very important."

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​Merry Christmas from A2i​

​Tips on doing business in Africa​

Free Virtual A2i Talks with experts available on our website.

You are always welcome to stream our videos with talks on doing business in Africa. They are all free.

​Click here to stream more than 35 other A2i Talks about doing business in East Africa.​

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