The 10th Edition of Africa Food Manufacturing Exhibition, featuring Fi Africa and ProPak MENA fairs, opened Sunday 29 May, hosting more than 180 international and local companies. The Exhibition saw the participation of more than 300 brands in the field of food and beverage manufacturing, from 20 different countries including Turkey, Malaysia, India, Netherlands, and Germany. The exhibition was held at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in New Cairo. Chris Speller, Vice President of Informa Markets MENA, stated that he is very pleased to be in Egypt and attend the 10th Africa Food Manufacturing Exhibition (AFM 2022). Chris stated: the exhibitions industry is growing rapidly in the MENA region as it represents a golden opportunity for the local manufacturers to get international exposure, bringing them the latest technology, and creating the perfect link between manufacturers and merchants to expand their businesses. Today's Africa Food Manufacturing is an example of combining the key F&B industry leaders and experts from 20 different countries under one roof. He added that "Currently, Egypt is one of the most promising countries for investment and it is considered the main gateway to the African continent. We have a sustained expansion plan for the local market that is In line with Egypt's 2030 vision 2030 where the government is keen on localizing industries and achieving self-sufficiency, especially in the Food supply and export chain sectors". Hany Khafagy, the General Manager of Informa Markets in Egypt and the organizer of the exhibition, said: "The food industry is one of the most important productive sectors in the national economy. From this point of view, we were keen on launching regional versions of one of the most important international exhibitions in the field of food industries in Egypt, which the company organizes in more than 11 countries around the world, to support the state's direction and develop its Economic and trade relations with all countries of the African continent and to promote unique Egyptian products aiming at gaining credibility of local and international markets." In this context, Moustafa Khalil, the General Manager of the exhibition, said: "After the successful launch of both "ProPak MENA" and "Food Ingredients Africa" last year, the demand for participation from many local and international companies increased in this year's edition, and this reflects the importance of the exhibition in being the most comprehensive platform for manufacturers and suppliers of the various production stages of the food and beverage industry in Africa." In response to the increasing market demand, baked products and sweets have been added. In addition to packaging, focusing on recycling for the sectors included in the exhibition this year, especially with the growth of the two sectors in the markets of Africa and the Middle East. The exhibition also offers several programs, including a business matchmaking program that coordinates pre-scheduled meetings among exhibitors and visitors, in addition to a panel discussion that brings together senior executive managers in the packaging sector from the Middle East and Africa to discuss opportunities for Arab-African exchange.
