At agrofood fair, participants foresee economic opportunities

Organisers of the ongoing three-day Nigeria Agrofood 2016 Exhibition, which began yesterday in Lagos, were optimistic that the long-term effect would help the country reduce its high dependence and import of food processing and packaging machineries from foreign countries.

Speaking with journalists at the event, Managing Director of the German Trade Show Specialists, Fairtrade, organisers of the fair, Mr. Martin März, said Nigeria’s agro-food and Plast print pack Nigeria is supporting the Nigerian agro-food industry to meet its challenges in terms of food hygiene, food safety, cost efficiency and creation of an ever greater diversity of food and beverage products.

Marz said the food and beverage sector is the largest segment of Nigeria’s manufacturing industry.

He said: “The target of agro-food and Plast print pack is to support the Nigerian agro-food industry to meet its challenges in terms of food hygiene, food safety, cost efficiency and creating an ever greater diversity of food and beverage products.

“The sector generates over 1.5 million jobs in the country and employs five per cent of the Nigerian workforce. It is all about technological exchange and co-operation between Nigerian food and drink producers and international specialists for food ingredients and food packaging technology.”

According to Marz, VDMA, the German Engineering Federation, had reported that Nigeria’s import of food processing and packaging machinery between 2010 and 2014 increased to 381 million euros from 198 million euros, indicating a plus of 92 per cent within four years.