Returning in November, Propak West Africa is set to be the primary exhibition for packaging, plastics, printing and processing companies to display their products and connect with each other.
From 22 – 24 November 2022 at the Landmark Centre, Lagos (Nigeria), organisers expect to welcome 5 000 visitors and more than 200 brands to the exhibition venue. Leading companies from the region and around the globe will be in attendance, demonstrating the latest in industry innovation and sharing experiences with those in attendance to collectively raise the profile of the manufacturing sector in West Africa.
In 2021, the exhibition took place on the back of the pandemic, but this year’s event is already set to beat the record numbers of attendees and brands set in 2019, and expands into the newly built Hall 3 at the Landmark Centre.
George Pearson, regional director of organisers Afrocet Montgomery says, “We’re delighted with the speed the exhibition has bounced back to its pre-pandemic size and trajectory, and this is down to the confidence our exhibitors and stakeholders have in the brand, which is great to see. We’ve got lots of new features for this year’s event and we’re looking forward to announcing them over the coming weeks as we get closer to opening day.”
Also discussed was a fresh look at the conference programme that runs alongside the exhibition, which will take a closer look at the verticals that make up the exhibitor profiles as well as green technologies, intra-Africa trade, innovative industry developments and capital finance for machinery. Pearson says, “These sessions will help to attract the leading minds in the sector who want to understand how to take their businesses to the next level and share their experiences over the last few years. On another note, we’re also excited to have several new companies showcasing their machines live on the exhibition floor, so visitors can gain a true understanding of how they’ll operate on their own factory floors.”
With so much already confirmed, Propak West Africa 2022 is shaping up to reconnect the manufacturing industries like never before.
Sidel expands in East Africa with new Nairobi office
Sidel has expanded its presence in Africa with the opening of a new office in Nairobi, Kenya. The move increases its support for its customers in East Africa, a key market for Sidel and one of the continent’s fastest-growing regions.Sidel has been serving the African market for many years. Building on this, the new East Africa office will enable it to drive development in the region by working more closely with customers to provide them with dedicated engineering capability and on-the-ground customer service.
“East Africa continues to show impressive market growth in Sidel’s core business areas of beverages, food, home and personal care packaging,” says Vishal Gupta, managing director for Sidel Services East Africa. “This is more than an office, it’s a symbol of our commitment to the African market, to our customers and to developing the skilled local engineering and operational talent pool. Sidel prides itself in offering global experience paired with local expertise. Here we are investing in the country and the region, partnering for growth while increasing customer satisfaction.”
The East Africa region is made up of 15 countries, from Eritrea in the north to the island of Mauritius. Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia have some of the highest levels of GDP and disposable income growth on the continent, indicating significant potential for years to come.
The new Sidel office, which was officially opened on 28 July, is in the heart of Nairobi’s central business district alongside sister company Tetra Pak as well as the African head offices of other international companies.
Gupta adds, “Many of our valued customers and global key accounts have a strong presence in East Africa. We can now offer them fast, direct access to our expert engineers and dedicated local support service teams.”
Africa is home to the world’s youngest and fastest-urbanising population and has the potential to become one of the major sources of global growth. At more than one billion, sub-Saharan Africa’s population is currently growing at around 2.7% a year – more than twice as fast as South Asia and Latin America.
Sidel is committed to contributing to the economic development of the region, enabling sustainable and responsible growth by delivering advanced packaging solutions that benefit customers at the lowest possible environmental impact.
