Gulf Ventures Capital, a Bahrain-based subsidiary of Gulf Islamic Investments (GII), has launched “Green Corp”, a new business creation platform to initiate and develop sustainable agricultural, aquaculture, food processing and production projects across the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states.
GII created Gulf Ventures Capital to manage and develop its business activities in the Kingdom of Bahrain, with which GII - a leading Shari’ah-compliant global alternative investment company with over $3 billion of assets under management - has enjoyed strong links since its creation in 2014. Identifying the food and agriculture sector as a GCC investment priority, Gulf Ventures Capital envisages Green Corp’s role as an umbrella organisation to develop and support companies in the GCC’s primary and secondary food sectors - notably soil-less farming, fish farming and aquaculture, efficient agricultural production and food processing.
Specifically, Green Corp will identify business opportunities in high-growth, demand-driven food companies, aligning with government policies to encourage more home-grown food products and value-added processing to reduce import dependence. As the GCC currently only produces some 30% of the food that it consumes, Green Corp also aims to strengthen domestic and regional food distribution channels, offering a more sustainable, healthier nutritional system through an environment-friendly supply chain, and providing local employment opportunities.
Saleh Albelushi, CEO of Gulf Ventures Capital, commented, “Although the GCC depends on imports to ensure its food supplies, we are keen to identify opportunities to invest in existing regional food production and processing companies, boosting the GCC’s domestic capabilities. From our base in Bahrain, Green Corp’s exceptional team will contribute to improved regional food production and processing options, and continued growth for the GCC economies”.