Deputy National Security Advisor Michael Froman Leads Interagency Delegation in Ethiopia

On July 17, Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs Michael Froman led a U.S. Government delegation on a site visit to a food processing plant in Ethiopia that supports Feed the Future activities. The delegation included representation from the White House, the Department of Commerce, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, USAID, and the U.S. Trade Representative.

The group visited the Addis-based Hilina Enriched Foods plant in order to better understand the importance of private sector agro-processing as a driver of economic growth in Ethiopia, as well as the Government of Ethiopia and the U.S. Government’s agricultural value chain approach from smallholder production to market sales.

Hilina produces high-quality supplementary and therapeutic dietary products, engaging over 40,000 smallholder farmers in its supply chain to provide a range of foods specifically designed to combat chronic malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies affecting children and other vulnerable groups in Ethiopia. The company aims to build the capacity of local farmers and supply partners to participate in the agricultural value chain. Under Feed the Future, USAID supports Hilina on product quality standards, contracts, and international procurement regulations.

Hilina was one of the private sector firms to sign a “Letter of Intent” as part of the G8 New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition. It is also working with the World Food Program to develop a chickpea-based Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) as part of an agreement between PepsiCo, USAID, the Government of Ethiopia, and the World Food Program.