Following the success of Food Africa and pacprocess MEA last year, concrete plans to expand this year’s dual trade fairs have begun. Here, exhibiting companies can expand their contacts in Africa and the Arab region in a targeted manner.
Food Africa, Africa’s leading trade fair for the food industry, will take place together with pacprocess MEA again in 2023 in Cairo, Egypt. In the past few years, both events have developed into hot spots for the entire food industry of the African continent and the MEA region. pacprocess MEA additionally addresses all fields of application in the packaging and the related processing industry. Both events will be held from 12 to 14 December, 2023, at the Egypt International Exhibition Center (EIEC) and are organised by Messe Düsseldorf together with its Egyptian partners IFP Egypt and Konzept under the umbrella of the interpack alliance.
Eight months before its kick-off, the trade fair duo is already making very good progress. For instance, the total area of Food Africa has been expanded from three to four halls. This means that an exhibition area of approximately 40,000 square metres is available overall. “The decision to expand the trade fair by an entire additional hall is our response to appropriately meet the demand and also create opportunities for additional formats and special exhibitions”, says Thomas Dohse, Director of the interpack alliance. In the past year, a total of 25,821 visitors from over 72 countries attended both trade fairs. “The exhibitors also expect a dynamic growth environment, driven by a strong domestic demand and export potential in 2023,” adds Dohse.
Egypt as an important actor on the global market
Looking back, the Egyptian food industry has shown huge development in the past seven years, with the number of companies more than tripling in the time period. Factories witnessed ceaseless modernization with a total of 16.3 billion euros pumped into the food industry. Consequently, the Egyptian food and beverage market generated 4.1 billion dollars in the past year and constituted 14 percent of the country’s total exports, showing a promising future.
Food Africa is the industry’s leading trade fair
Building on its long-standing presence in the African food and beverage industry, Food Africa has developed into the most important event for decision-makers from all over the world to harness the business potential of Egypt, Africa, and the MENA region. Here, exhibiting companies meet local, regional, and international wholesalers, distributors, and retailers.
Exhibitors and visitors profit from further benefits at Food Africa. The hosted buyer’s programme brokers relevant contacts and enables planning security and on-site conclusion of contracts, which gives exhibitors the opportunity to expand their business. Another important part of Food Africa is the specialist conference that brings together international experts to discuss various topics in agriculture and food science. While the Live Cooking Show supported by the Egyptian Chefs Association, will see local and international cooks prepare unique recipes, the Barista Show is a prestigious contest that coffee experts shouldn’t miss.
pacprocess MEA unlocks potential
pacprocess MEA is also highly anticipated, and will again showcase a wide range of packaging materials, processing and packaging technologies as well as solutions for automation and digitalisation. In addition to benefiting from the robust food industry in Egypt, the exhibiting companies are also operating in the environment of a strong consumer market with more than 100 million inhabitants, which offer a huge potential for consumer goods manufacturers. The Egyptian packaging, printing, and processing industry has reported considerable growth in the last few years. For example, printing and packaging exports increased by 37 percent in the first half of 2022. The Egyptian printing and packaging market is also expected to expand with a forecast yearly growth rate of 4.1 percent between 2021 and 2025.
pacprocess MEA also supports business on site with a hosted buyers programme that facilitates worldwide networking between exhibitors and professional buyers as well as a specialist conference that brings together international experts from the packaging and processing sector.
Going to Egypt with a federal sponsorship
German companies have the attractive opportunity to exhibit their products at both trade fairs as part of the German government’s federal sponsorship. The German Pavilion offers discounts besides exhibiting their products together with other German companies under the “Made in Germany” brand, which grants them additional attention.
For latest updates visit www.pacprocess-mea.com or www.foodafrica-expo.com
