 There are indications that local production and processing of foods in West Africa are on the increase even as the figures of rising food imports confirm that the largest food market in Africa is still undersupplied. The indications were given in data released on Friday by the German Trade Fair Specialists, Fairtrade while announcing this year’s edition of the Agrofood&plasticprintpack West Africa which would take place on December 5 and 7, at Accra International Conference Centre, Accra, Ghana. Stating that rising technology imports indicate massive investments and a revival of local production, the organizers of the fair said West African imports of agricultural machinery and equipment amounted to 187 million euro in 2016 It also announced that West African imports of food processing and packaging technology increased from 506 million euro in 2015 to 556 million euro in 2016 (VDMA), up 10 per cent. Even as it added that West Africa imported plastics technology worth 142.9 million euro in 2016, printing and paper technology of 121.8 million euro and packaging technology worth 240.2 million euro. The organizers said that rising technology imports confirm massive investments in processing, plastics and packaging equipment and indicate a revival of local production and an extremely promising medium-term development. Promising to make the 2017 edition of the fair a record participation of over 90 exhibitors from 21 countries, the organizers however said that West African food imports increased to 14.4. Billion US$ in 2015 compared to 13.1 billion US$ in 2014, a plus of 10per cent. |
| It stated that more than 90 exhibitors from 21 countries including five national pavilions from Algeria, France, Netherlands, Poland and Sri Lanka, make the 2017 edition the biggest ever.
It however regretted that the figures of rising food imports confirm that the largest food market in Africa is still undersupplied. The fair which would be the fourth in its series in West Africa, takes place on the background of positive economic data as figures of World Trade Organisation (WTO) and German Engineering Federation (VDMA) indicate a clear upward trend for West Africa’s Agrofood & PlastPrintPack industry. Apart from Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal are the largest importers of finished food as well as of agricultural and food processing and packaging technology in West Africa “This year over 90 exhibitors from 21 countries are represented, making the 2017 edition the biggest ever”, says Leonie Ganser, project manager at Fairtrade. “The exhibitors come from Algeria, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Iran, Italy, Korea, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom.” In addition to many global players, the organizers said five national pavilions participate from Algeria, showcasing agribusiness products, solutions and technology; France, organized by adepta – offering French know-how and technology for agriculture, livestock and Agrofood production of eight exhibitors The Netherlands under the motto “Holland-Ghana Growing together” offering seeds, plants, processed foods and tissue culture supplies;Poland, displaying Agrofood products and equipment by 12 exhibitors and Sri Lanka Tea Board with five exhibitors offering Ceylon Tea Agrofood & PlastPrintPack West Africa 2017 is supported by the Ghanaian Ministry of Food and Agriculture and of Trade and Industry, the Delegation of the German Industry and Commerce in Ghana AHK, the French Agrofood association adepta and AVEP – Associación Valenciana de Empresarios de Plásticos. |
