With a total of around 900 exhibitors, the trade fair duo of pacprocess MEA and Food Africa 2024 once again offer a pioneering platform for F&B, and food packaging and printing machine trade in the Middle East and Africa region. Interested companies will find this an ideal opportunity to get ahead of the competition and establish themselves in a dynamic market. Both trade fairs will take place from 3 to 5 December, 2024, at the Egypt International Exhibition Center, Cairo.
The fourth edition of pacprocess MEA will continue to offer excellent opportunities in the processing, packaging, and printing sectors. When it comes to the growing food industry in Africa, there is no way to ignore the co-located Food Africa. Into its ninth edition, Food Africa has become the number one trade fair for the region’s food sector. At the same time, in 2023, the dual events had a record footfall of 27,500 visitors with a show floor spanning over 40,000 square metres.
This year, the focus is on having a higher participation from international exhibitors and visitors, a hosted buyers program that facilitates business undertakings through high-calibre contacts and maximizing return on investment, and an accompanying conference programme that discusses the challenges faced by the sector and relevant issues for the future, such as sustainability.
International trade for food and packaging machines
Egypt has emerged as a major hub for trade and commerce, which is of special significance for the MEA region. With more than 110 million inhabitants and potential consumers, the country is the most populous state in the Arab world. Last year, the Egyptian food market had a turnover of 182.7 billion dollars, proving that there is enormous potential for companies in the processing and packaging sector.
The Egyptian foreign trade for food and packaging machines is especially active with Italy, China, Germany, Turkey, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. According to VDMA, Italy leads in statistics with a volume of 74 million euros in the year 2023. Components are also heavily sought after. In this area, Italy and Germany dominated foreign trade with Egypt last year. Apart from a strong food market, packaging machines are also in demand by other sectors, along with machines and devices for cleaning, filling, and capping of bottles; machines and devices for packaging or wrapping goods; dairy machines; and machines and devices for producing baked goods, processing meat, fruits, and vegetables and manufacturing beverages, oils, and greases. This large spectrum of processing and packaging equipment is being given optimum presentation by Food Africa and pacprocess MEA.
Sustainability and technologies
Sustainability will once again be a special area of focus of both trade fairs this year. This issue is of great importance for Africa and the MEA region, and in need of substantial investments. The pacprocess conference will also feature talks on the topic of sustainability and innovations against food loss and waste. In addition, pacprocess MEA will present cutting-edge technologies and progressive solutions in the areas of packaging and processing which aim to minimise environmental impact and improve operational efficiency.
Networking opportunities and participation
Food Africa is a magnet for visitors and as a global brand is creating an efficient network of traders, purchasers and their partners from Egypt, the MENA countries, and the African region. In 2024, the trade fair will see more international exhibitors with Armenia, Georgia, and Slovakia making their debut. Suppliers from countries including India, Poland, Turkey, and the UAE will present themselves in national pavilions.
This year’s pacprocess MEA proves to be just as international, with national pavilions from China, Germany, India, and Saudi Arabia displaying their innovative, state-of-the-art products.
Both trade fairs are expecting exhibitors from more than 30 countries.
Benefits for exhibitors
Exporters at pacprocess MEA and Food Africa can expect focused networking with local, regional, and international industry representatives, with support platforms such as the hosted buyers program, a regular fixture at both the events. Both pacprocess MEA and Food Africa benefit from the support by local businesses, public authorities, associations, and Egyptian governmental organisations. This also applies to the German federal ministries which support exhibitors to present themselves at the German pavilion. Along with their presentation at the trade fair, exhibitors at pacprocess MEA also have the opportunity to enter the SAVE FOOD DESIGN and SUSTAINABILITY DESIGN Awards.
For latest updates, visit www.foodafrica-expo.com and www.pacprocess-mea.com
