(Xinhua) - The activities of the seventh session of the "Food Africa" exhibition for food industries began (Monday) in Cairo , which is one of the largest international events in the field of specialized exhibitions in Africa.
Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir and Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali Al-Moselhi inaugurated the exhibition, which will continue until next Wednesday.
More than 700 companies from 32 countries are participating in the exhibition, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir said that the "Food Africa" exhibition is one of the most important and largest international events in the field of specialized exhibitions in the African continent, noting that the participation of more than 700 companies from 32 countries reflects the importance of this exhibition, which has become one of the most important international platforms in the field of food processing. .
In his opening speech, he added, "The exhibition represents a large gathering of food industries, agricultural crops, production inputs, food processing technology, and packaging.
The Egyptian minister believed that holding the exhibition for the seventh year in a row reflects the interest of Egyptian and international companies in the African market and their keenness to be present in this promising market.
He pointed out that the African market represents one of the most important priorities of the Egyptian state's strategy to enhance foreign trade and achieve its goals to reach merchandise exports to $100 billion annually, especially as it is a huge consumer market capable of absorbing large proportions of Egyptian food exports.
He pointed out that the conclusion of the first deal to export Egyptian food products to Ghana last October within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFFCTA) reflects the interest and confidence of the countries of the African continent in the Egyptian food industries, as well as the great export opportunities available to this sector in various African markets.
The UAE is the "guest of honor" of the current edition of the exhibition, coinciding with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Egyptian-Emirati relations.
Yasser Arar, an official at the Emirati Tayseer Arar Food Industries Company, said that he is participating in the "Food Africa" exhibition for the second time in order to enter the African market.
"During our participation in the exhibition last year, we met more than one customer, and we are currently expanding the range of customers, especially since there is a great demand for the exhibition, and the African market is important to us," Arar told Xinhua.
While Mahmoud Abdel-Mohsen, director of the Saudi ((Al-Muna for Tahini and Halawa Production)), considered that the exhibition is a "meeting for merchants and exhibitors" and praised the wonderful organization.
"We participate in the Saudi pavilion and introduce people to the items we offer for export, and we may buy some products that we need in manufacturing, such as sesame," Abdul Mohsen told Xinhua.
And he added, "The exhibition is a very important platform because we reach through it a large base of merchants and consumers," noting that his company is participating in the exhibition for the first time.
As for Khalil Ghanem, who works in the field of trade and contracting in Sudan, he participated in the exhibition because of his interest in the subject of packaging.
"The exhibition has a variety of products, and the participating companies are large, and during my tour I found excellent products," Ghanem told Xinhua.
On the other hand, Mohamed Ahmed Nour, head of the ((Egyptian Gulf Food Industries)) company in Egypt, said, "We target the African market because it is a fertile ground for our products, and we offer good quality products that can compete."
"The exhibition gives us the opportunity to export, and we are happy to participate in this exhibition for the first time," Nour told Xinhua.