LIONRPO receives World Bank MIGA guarantee
Latvian company LINEN, part of the international business group LIONPRO Group, has become the first Latvian company to be granted a political and financial risk insurance guarantee by the World Bank’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) for a large-scale international investment project in Kenya.
This guarantee is a significant recognition of the company’s expertise and sustainable development strategy, as well as an important signal of the international competitiveness and export capacity of the Latvian economy.
MIGA’s support will be used to implement a USD 9 million LIONPRO Group investment project in Kenya, expanding the company’s operations in the logistics and processing of animal feed ingredients in one of Africa’s most important countries. The project envisions the creation of modern and sustainable infrastructure that will ensure supply chain efficiency, quality, and compliance with the highest international standards, while making feed more accessible in remote regions at the lowest possible cost.
This is a Latvian investment in global food security – a significant step that, with the support of the World Bank, creates a real contribution to improving food availability and strengthening agricultural growth in Africa.
Jānis Kuļikovskis, Chairman of the Board of LIONPRO Group and LINEN, emphasizes:
“The MIGA guarantee for our project means a safer environment for investments in Kenya and the opportunity to focus on long-term development. It is a tremendous recognition for our team and for Latvian business as a whole – a clear signal that Latvia can compete with world-class companies by leveraging complex international financial instruments. Our investment in Kenya is not just a business project – it helps local farmers become more self-reliant, strengthens regional food security, and creates positive socio-economic impact.”
Arvils Ašeradens, Minister of Finance of Latvia, adds:
“L.J. Linen is a vivid example of how Latvian capital can expand business horizons, strengthen competitiveness, and open doors to new opportunities on a global scale. The MIGA insurance guarantee in Kenya is a sign of trust in Latvia’s private sector – in its ability to operate in complex markets with high added value and to create sustainable, development-oriented projects. This guarantee not only protects the company from geopolitical risks but also strengthens food security in Africa and creates new opportunities for Latvian exports. I hope this precedent will encourage other companies to use MIGA instruments to develop their business safely and sustainably.”
Hiroshi Matano, MIGA’s Executive Vice President, stresses:
“We recognize the urgent need to ensure affordable food at a time when the population of Sub-Saharan Africa could double by 2050. Agriculture is the backbone of Kenya’s economy, yet smallholder farmers face persistent challenges that limit productivity and increase costs. With this project, we aim to reduce these barriers, strengthen the agricultural value chain, and promote food security in the future.”
Jānis Kuļikovskis continues:
“This is a triumph for Latvian entrepreneurs – we are no longer just aid recipients but bold investors and drivers of development. It is an example of how persistence, expertise, and a clear vision can secure some of the world’s most complex financial instruments. The project also represents a new bridge between Latvia and Africa – a cooperation platform that fosters regional development, knowledge transfer, strengthens local farmers’ capacity, and promotes sustainable growth.”
According to the 2023 Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor (AATM) report, food exports from Africa to Europe could increase by 20–26% if non-tariff requirements, including sanitary and phytosanitary standards, were improved. The project developed by LIONPRO in Kenya directly addresses the implementation of these requirements, which in the long run will strengthen Africa’s ability to increase food production and ensure compliance with international standards.
The project, launched in the summer of 2024, is the result of close cooperation between LIONPRO and MIGA specialists, following high standards of good governance, including social responsibility, environmental protection, and respect for workers’ rights. This initiative serves as a foundation for future development.
LIONPRO already plans similar projects in West Africa, as well as expansion into Asian and South American markets, creating a global animal feed supply platform that enhances food security and sustainability.
The attraction of such large-scale international financial instruments to a Latvian company strengthens the country’s export capacity, expands business cooperation opportunities in new markets, and improves Latvia’s visibility on the global investment map. The security provided by the guarantee enables the company to undertake larger and more ambitious projects, which in the long run can also increase Latvia’s GDP, tax revenues, and create additional jobs both in Latvia and in partner countries.
More information about the project is available on MIGA’s website: https://www.miga.org/press-release/miga-guarantee-strengthen-food-security-kenya
