With around 900 exhibitors in total, the trade fair duo Food Africa and pacprocess MEA 2024 again offer a pioneering platform for the food, beverages, food packaging and printing machine trade in the MEA 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 in Cairo.

When it comes to the growing food industry in Africa, there is no way to ignore Food Africa. In 2024, the trade fair is being held for the ninth time, and for years has been the unchallenged number one for the region’s food sector. At the same time, pacprocess MEA offers excellent opportunities in the processing, packaging and printing sectors. In 2023, this combination led to a record edition with 27,500 visitors and a show floor of about 40,000 square metres. This year, the trade fair duo is again set to grow. The focus is on further internationalization with regard to exhibitors and visitors, a hosted buyers programme for high-calibre contacts and an accompanying programme that discusses the challenges to the sector and relevant issues for the future, for example sustainability.

International trade for food and packaging machines
Egypt is a hub for trade and commerce which is of central importance for the Middle East and Africa, and with more than 110 million inhabitants and potential consumers, the country is the most populous state in the Arab world. The Egyptian food market achieved a turnover of 182.7 billion dollars last year. This proves that there is enormous potential for companies in the processing & packaging sector.

The Egyptian foreign trade for food and packaging machines is especially active with Italy, China, Germany, Turkey, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Italy heads the statistic with a volume of 74 million euros in the year 2023 (VDMA). Components are also heavily sought after. In this area, Italy and Germany dominated foreign trade with Egypt in the 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, fruit and vegetables and manufacturing beverages, oils and greases. This large spectrum is being given optimum presentation by Food Africa and pacprocess MEA.

Sustainability and technologies
One special focus of both trade fairs this year will again be sustainability. This issue is of great importance for Africa and the MEA region, and in need of substantial investments. Visitors can expect a large amount of high-calibre input surrounding this topic in the accompanying programme. In addition, pacprocess MEA will present cutting-edge technologies and progressive solutions in the areas of packaging and processing which aim to minimize the impact on the environment while increasing 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 be even more international and thus more attractive. Among the newcomers on the exhibitor side are, for example, the countries of Georgia, Armenia and Slovakia. Suppliers will also present themselves in different national pavilions – for example India, the United Arab Emirates, Poland or Turkey. This year’s pacprocess MEA proves to be just as international, presenting innovations at, among others, the German, Saudi-Arabian, Indian and Chinese pavilion. All in all, both trade fairs are expecting exhibitors from more than 30 nations.

Benefits for exhibitors
Exporters at Food Africa and pacprocess MEA can expect focused networking with local, regional and international industry representatives, supported for example by a hosted buyers programme which for years has been a fixture at both trade fairs. Both events profit from support by local businesses, public authorities, associations and Egyptian governmental organizations. This also applies to the German Federal ministries which support exhibitors as part of the German Federal presentation, offering the opportunity 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.