Africa Days: Sub-Saharan Africa in the spotlight at Macfrut

The 39th edition of MACFRUT is becoming more and more centred around Sub-Saharan Africa. In fact, Macfrut will be hosting Africa Days, a number of initiatives aimed at exploring development opportunities for the fruit and vegetable sector in Africa, which will be organised in collaboration with the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation), ICE-Agenzia – Italian Trade Agency, UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organisation) and in partnership with Confindustria Assafrica & Mediterraneo. Renzo Piraccini, President of Cesena Fiera, said: ‘The fruit and vegetable sector is of strategic importance to Africa, which is faced with several production-related problems and, on top of that, there are two other complex issues: the cold chain challenges, resulting in the loss of a third of produce, and the lack of integration between producers and markets. Macfrut has a crucial role to play in this, since it is the only trade fair in the industry to host companies representing all supply chain segments, which is something that Africa needs.’ The new additions to this edition of Africa Days, scheduled to take place during all three days of Macfrut (4-6 May), include: the General State of Fruit and Vegetables, a presentation on several “best practices” relating to AICS projects in Africa, and several focus sessions on specific countries to inform companies about available market opportunities from an import and export perspective. The General State of Fruit and VegetablesDuring the opening event, to be held on 4 May 2022, African ministers and institutions will gather to discuss key issues concerning the development of the fruit and vegetable sector in African countries. Specifically, topics will include increasing fruit and vegetable production in a sustainable manner and ways of improving the cold chain. Best Practices: AICS projects in AfricaAICS, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, will be attending the trade fair with its own exhibition area, and a whole day will be dedicated to presenting projects implemented in Africa. Country presentations: Import & Export opportunitiesAfrican companies will be the focus of presentations specifically dedicated to each country, which will be attended by entrepreneurs and specialist buyers. Local ICE-Agenzia representatives will also explain the opportunities available in the African market to European companies exporting technologies and services.