New agribusiness opportunities at retail expo

Africa's Big Seven (AB7) – the only event of its kind anywhere on the continent – attracts exhibitors and visitors from around the world. The expo is a continental clearing house where fresh and processed foods are displayed for export, specialty foods and beverages are marketed to Africa's importers, wholesalers and retailers, and manufacturing, processing and packaging technology are showcased. The last expo held in July 2006 attracted over 7000 qualified trade visitors from 31 countries, with a substantial number coming from various agribusiness and food processing concerns in other African countries, all keen to do business with South Africa.

The agricultural sector is the awakening giant of Africa and significant calls have been made from the continent and elsewhere for a dramatic refocusing of attention and funds to support Africa in this regard. EMS and Agrifica have therefore joined forces to launch the first ever Agribusiness Africa Exhibition & Conference as a complimentary component of AB7 to create a business platform that will facilitate a rapid and significant intervention in the development of agriculture in Africa. Various project development and supply opportunities exist in Africa for local and international companies and the Agribusiness Africa Exhibition is the platform where business contacts will be made and networks developed that will start to change the face of agriculture and agribusiness in Africa.

This relevant event will focus on the technology and inputs necessary to make agribusiness in Africa work by linking needs to resources. This is done by creating a business platform that brings producers, businesspeople, entrepreneurs, processors, marketers, development and aid organisations together with equipment, inputs and service providers in contact with each other to stimulate and develop the business of agriculture in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa.

The Agribusiness Africa Conference will run 16 – 17 July 2007 and will focus on the themes Developing Agribusiness in Africa & Agricultural Technology for Africa. Presentations by leading industry experts will focus on the following subjects:

DAY 1:

Developing Agribusiness in Africa
Agricultural Markets & Standards
Logistics & Supply Chain Management
Project Finance & Credit Management
Product Value-adding & Processing Technologies

DAY 2:

Agricultural Technology for Africa
Macro Perspective on African Agriculture
Agriculture by Sector
Production Technology for Africa
Value-adding to Africa's Production

To register to attend as a delegate and/or visit the show (www.exhibitionsafrica.com/2007/exhib_2007_big_seven_main.asp, contact the organisers on tel +27 (0)12 804 9729, fax +27 (0)12 804 2670 or email .