Diarise SAITEX, AB7 for African goods

Show visitors have free access to both shows, offering trade exposure for exhibitors and business opportunities for visitors. Last year's events together attracted 644 companies from 32 countries, with thousands of products in 431 categories.

Africa offers the world, food products that no other continent can and South Africa offers far more than simply wine and fruit, products the country is most well known for.

South African first time exhibitors

One of the largest estate olive oil producers in the southern hemisphere, Willow Creek Olive Estate, will be exhibiting for the first time. "I know that these are world-class exhibitions and I've picked up only positive feedback from other exhibitors and visitors," says Gerhard Koen, commercial manager of Willow Creek Olive Estate. "We are proud of our award winning olives and olive oil products and hope to get extensive leads and contacts at the exhibition to broaden our markets."

Another first time South African exhibitor is Manjoh Foods, well known locally for its maize meal, maize rice, yellow maize, kidney beans and samp products. "We've attended the show as visitors in the past and are back this year as an exhibitor," says MD Andre da Costa. "We are currently trading with customers in Congo, Nigeria and Mozambique and would like to make contact with customers further into Africa."

African exhibitors

Some of Kenya's food and beverage offerings will also be on show at AB7 - such as coffee, spices, tea, herbs and nuts. Not only is the country the world's third largest producer and leading exporter of black tea, it is also known as the East African 'powerhouse' of the coffee world.

The Nigeria pavilion will be maximising trade opportunities with more than 50 presentations and high-level business meetings scheduled. Nigeria is a major exporter of pineapples, cocoa, coffee, tomatoes, okra, plantain and other foods.

Bonaventura Hinda, commercial counsellor at the High Commission of Namibia, stresses the importance of SAITEX to developing trade links with other countries. "We attend the show to source import and export deals and promote trade and investment. The show provides access to other African countries where we would like to increase trade. We will be promoting a variety of Namibian products such as an assortment of pasta, processed meat and beverages this year."

AB7 info

AB7 is a seven-in-one trade exhibition that showcases an extensive range of products, equipment, services, systems and technologies in the food and beverage sector, comprising:

• Agri-Food - manufacturers and producers expo;
  
• IFMA - dedicated biennial meat industry expo;
  
• FoodBiz Africa - food service and equipment;
  
• FoodTech Africa together with DrinkTech Africa - food sector production, processing and packaging, and beverage processing and packing machinery, equipment and technology;
  
• InterBake Africa - equipment, processes and ingredients for the baking industry;
  
• Pan Africa Retail Exhibition - food, beverages, merchandise and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG);
  
• Retail Solutions Africa - technology for retailers.

For more information, go to www.exhibitionsafrica.com