The 34th edition of Macfrut records higher numbers

This year’s edition of MACFRUT recorded higher numbers: a larger exhibition area compared to last year (increased from 43,000 to 50,000 square metres); a growing number of exhibitors (risen from 1,000 to 1,100) and of visitors (from 38,000 to 39,000). And, above all, the number of foreign visitors increased to 25% of the total. In short, Macfrut has proven to be a trade fair offering a wide range of contents and with increasing international appeal. It is an outstanding result considering that it was organised in just over 7 months since the previous edition. "I would like to thank all the exhibitors who showed us that they believe in our project - said Renzo Piraccini, President of Macfrut - We are pleased with the results achieved, which confirmed our expectations and encourage us to continue along our path of innovation and internationalisation. Once again, teamwork paid off. The Italian fruit and vegetable sector will benefit greatly from the development of this trade fair." More than 40 foreign countries were represented among the exhibitors, with many new entries such as Angola, Ethiopia, Uganda, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Uruguay. Delegations of traders came from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. International exhibitors were highly satisfied with the organisation of the trade fair and with the opportunities offered for international relations. Angola. Gentil Viana, President of Consorcio Rede Camponesa"This was the first time for us at a trade fair for the fruit and vegetable sector. Macfrut is a dynamic, future-oriented trade fair: open, innovative and capable of growing, also thanks to the strategic role of the area where it is held in terms of agri-food and agribusiness and to its international approach. We received a great deal of support from the very first moment we decided to take part in the trade fair. As for the expected results, we achieved all of them: we were able to sell and obtain many new contacts but we also learnt a lot and gained a general overview of the sector. We will certainly continue to take part in Macfrut." Colombia. Adriana Senior Mojica, President of Corporacion Colombia Internacional"We are very pleased with the trade fair, it was our second time here and we find it to be a highly specialised exhibition. We took part in many meetings and made agreements with buyers. Our main goal is, on the one hand, to find buyers for our high quality fruit - including mango, papaya, pineapple, Hass avocado, lime and many others - and investors and, on the other hand, to find out more about Italian technology and machinery. And Macfrut is the ideal place to do this." Sudan. Izeldin Elfadel“This is the second time that the delegation takes part in Macfrut. Our main goal is to promote our products such as palm dates, groundnuts, organic watermelon and mangos, grapefruit and arabic gum. Especially after the USA ban, we are looking at the European market with great interest. Macfrut seems a good business platform. Our purpose here is to enhance the marketing of our products and to find interesting processing machines and packaging solutions.” Dominican Republic. Lina Altagracia Valeza Martes“We have been attending Macfrut for several years now. Our goal is to find customers for our main export-oriented products: banana, mango, pineapple and avocado. For us, it has always been a successful experience: we had the opportunity to meet potential customers from many different countries but also potential technology providers." The international appeal of the trade fair is confirmed by the announcement of a 2018 edition, to be held from 9th to 11th May at the Rimini Expo Centre, which will see Colombia as the Partner Country and the launch of the first Tropical Fruit Congress. For further information:Please visit: www.macfrut.comElena Vincenzi and Alice CamelliniInternational press office Macfrut c/o fruitecomTel. 0039-059- 7863894