The first edition of East Afripack to debut today in Nairobi
09.09.2014
Processing, packaging and converting technology will be under the spotlight for four days in East
Nairobi, 9th September 2014
The first edition of East Afripack will open the doors today, at Nairobi’s Kenyatta Center. The show is entirely dedicated to Sub-Saharan East Africa’s emerging economies. 135 exhibitors from 18 countries will showcase the entire production chain including processing, packaging and converting technology and materials, giving rise to one of the most anticipated events in the technology and innovation market, particularly in the food industry. The exhibition’s objective is to significantly contribute to the technological upgrade of the entire EAC region, a fast-growing area of the African continent, with Kenya’s market pointed to as one of the most promising.
East Afripack was officially presented yesterday with a press conference in Nairobi during which Ipack-Ima Spa CEO Guido Corbella, together with the partners supporting East Afripack 2014, supplied additional details about the exhibition.
A combination of knowledge and competence is crucial to create a leading exhibition in the region, and is the only way to match demand and offer while promoting the development of a technological culture – pointed out Mr. Corbella. The technological needs of East Africa, in whose industrial fabric SMEs play a key role, were identified through a market research commissioned from UNIDO. This knowledge was combined with the competence brought by Ipack-Ima Spa and PMMI, organizers of leading exhibitions in the processing and packaging industry in Europe and the US and joint venture’s partners in organizing East Afripack with the support of Kenya’s Ministry of Industrialization, UNIDO and EAC.
Improving packaging is a priority for the entire East Africa area as a solution to the problem of waste in food production – 60% is lost before reaching consumers. In addition, quality packaging improves the quality of life of the population as it ensures adequate food preservation and safety. Last but not least, high packaging standards drive exports as they enable products to be sold to countries where stricter food safety regulations are in place.
East Afripack is the result of a unique synergy of first-class international organizations – such as the Italian-American partnership and the cooperation with local Institutional bodies – and it signals optimism and enterprising spirit on the topic of development and technological upgrade. This is particularly relevant at a time of great global economic insecurity.
A highly qualified public is expected to attend as a result of careful planning and selection of the top industry players in the EAC region. They include representatives from the most important companies, ranging from multinationals to leading local enterprises from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Ruanda and Ethiopia. In addition, 80 select delegates from the private industry and EAC institutions have been invited as part of the buyers program headed by the exhibition’s steering committee and supported by Italy’s Ministry of Economic Development and the ICE – the Italian agency for foreign trade.
Education is also a crucial area within the show, for this reason East Afripack features several side activities taking place during the show. First of all the international Conference “Food processing & packaging innovation for a sustainable development”, promoted by Ipack-Ima Spa with the support of UNIDO, East Africa Community (EAC) and Kenya’s Ministry of Development. The conference will be held throughout the exhibition days.
Other significant events top off the offer of “technological culture”: a customized consulting service for technology investment planning , provided by the “Business & Technology Planning Team”; the “Innovation Corner”, connecting visitors and exhibitors through significant product case histories; the AfriStar Packaging Award ceremony, which will reward the best packaging projects in the African industry. September 12th, the last exhibition day, will be devoted to students of packaging Universities and schools with the Education & Training Day.
East Afripack is powered by: Ipack-Ima Spa - In Joint venture with: PMMI (The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies)
In partnership with: UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization), EAC (East African Community) and the Ministry of Industrialization and Enterprise Development of Kenya.
In cooperation with: MISE (Ministry of Economic Development), ICE (Italian Trade Agency), ASSOGRAFICI (the Italian Printing and Paper Converting Industries Association), ASSOFOODTEC (the Italian Association of Machinery and Equipment for the Production, Processing and Preservation Food).
