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After seven successful editions, Food Africa has firmly established itself as a leading international exhibition in the African region, dedicated to the agro-food industry. Located in Egypt, the gateway to Africa, this exhibition offers a versatile and highly-targeted platform for local, regional, and international industry players to explore robust opportunities in Egypt’s substantial market and Africa’s dynamic agro-food sector.
Food Africa presents a unique showcase, networking, and matchmaking experience, providing access to the flourishing agriculture industry in Egypt and Africa.
The Food Africa 2023 and Pacprocess exhibitions were inaugurated by Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry, Ahmed Samir, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, Ali Moselhi, and Minister of Transport, Kamel Al-Wazir at the Egypt International Exhibitions Centre in Cairo from December 12 to 14. The event featured exhibitors from more than 900 companies representing 32 countries and 13 international pavilions. The Russian pavilion, the largest among them, showcased 25 prominent companies in the Russian agricultural and food industries.
Offering new perspectives and connections, innovations in processing & packaging, and showcasing the diversity of the African food mega-market, Food Africa and Pacprocess MEA became platforms for the latest technologies and concepts, fostering partnerships that transcend borders.
Fresh Africa, a dedicated booth within Food Africa, focuses on creating a market for fresh produce producers, buyers, and suppliers in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
The African market is a strategic priority for Egypt’s trade goal of achieving $100 billion in annual exports, as highlighted by Minister Ahmed Samir. He also noted that Egypt’s food, agriculture, and packaging exports reached $8.761 billion in 2022, accounting for 16.81 percent of the country’s total exports that year.
The exhibition featured several sessions and seminars. The Egyptian Chefs Association took center stage, organizing culinary demonstrations to showcase Egyptian products to both foreign and local visitors. Over the three-day exhibition, the Association presented six cooking demos, including one on Egyptian cuisine by Chef Mustafa Al Refaey, sponsored by Juhayna Company. Chef Al Refaey discussed the authenticity of Egyptian cuisine and how it can be promoted through contemporary presentation, serving a gratinated rice pudding stuffed with duck and basbousa cheesecake with strawberry sauce.
Other highlights included a demo on Thai cuisine by Chef Mohamed Yousry and Chef Panee Khangrang, featuring famous Thai dishes like Pad Thai and Beef Krapow. Chef Sharmeen Saad presented two demos, one sponsored by Cairo 3A, showcased pasta with chicken and vegetables, and the other sponsored by Al Durra, where she presented meatballs Egyptian rice, and cheesy artichoke bites, while Chef Salma Saleh demo, sponsored by Goodies Egypt – Chtaura, presented two dishes: fish kibbeh stuffed with halloumi cheese, raisins and dried tomatoes and a mille-feuille baklava with Arabic coffee cream. Lastly, a culinary demo using Kuwaiti products was conducted by Chef Yasser Ramadan, sponsored by the Kuwait Pavilion Company, featuring lasagna stuffed with vegetables and ricotta cheese, and pumpkin with bechamel served with ice cream and nuts.
Furthermore, ECA Managing Director, Ashraf Gamal, has joined the committee of Jury of the Industrial Innovation Award, InnoAware, an initiative for the Food sector that was held during Food Africa Expo 2023. The Industrial Innovation Award was first launched in 2019 by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development . The award aims to recognize and support Egyptian industrial companies that have implemented innovation in products, services, or processes, leading to increased profits, cost savings, job creation, or enhanced exports.
In conclusion, the Egyptian Chefs Association expresses heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the culinary demos at Food Africa. Your support has been instrumental in showcasing the richness of Egyptian cuisine and fostering culinary connections on both local and international fronts.
