FI Africa & ProPak 2023 Conference | Expert Speakers

FI Africa & ProPak 2023 Conference Speakers: Pioneering the African F&B Summit

The FI Africa & ProPak 2023 Conference Speakers were the cornerstone of transformative three-day summit held at the Egypt International Exhibition Center. This event, known as the African F&B Value Chain Summit, brought together over 350 exhibiting brands and 10,000 specialized visitors to address the critical evolution of the “Farm to Fork” sector in the MENA region.

By co-locating the ingredients expertise of “Fi Global” with the processing and packaging solutions of “ProPak,” the event provided a unique, 360-degree perspective on industrial growth and regional food security.

FI Africa & ProPak 2023 represents the strategic co-location of two global powerhouses: “Fi Global” for food ingredients and “ProPak” for food processing and packaging. This synergy creates the most comprehensive food manufacturing platform in the MENA region.

Scale of Impact: The 2023 edition featured over 350 top brands and attracted more than 10,000 specialized visitors from 53 countries.
Industrial Focus: The event occupied 20,000 square meters, covering the entire “Farm to Fork” value chain, including ingredients, manufacturing machinery, and smart packaging solutions.
Strategic Hub: Egypt was chosen as the host nation due to its position as Africa’s largest food and beverage market and its burgeoning role as a regional manufacturing gateway.

Check more about FI Africa & ProPak MENA 2023

The African F&B Value Chain Exhibition: Detailed Track Descriptions

The summit was organized into three core strategic tracks, each designed to solve specific challenges within the African food manufacturing ecosystem:

Track 1: Strategy, Leadership, and Export Growth

This track focused on the macro-economic positioning of Egypt and Africa within the global food trade. Discussions centered on government initiatives, such as the “Ebda” and “Nile Pioneers” programs, that aim to deepen local industrialization and reduce dependency on imported ingredients.

Leaders explored how to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost intra-African trade, which currently sees Egypt exporting over $2.1 billion to African markets in a single quarter.

Track 2: Food Safety, Regulatory Compliance, and Risk Management

Dedicated to the technical foundations of trust, this track addressed the implementation of international standards like Codex Alimentarius and FSSC 22000. Experts from the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) discussed moving toward a risk-based control system, which streamlines customs releases while ensuring the highest level of consumer protection.

Sessions emphasized the “localization of compliance,” helping SMEs navigate the complex labelling and nutritional regulations required for both domestic and export markets.

Track 3: Sustainability, Smart Packaging, and Supply Chain Resilience

This track tackled the urgent need for operational efficiency in the face of global disruptions, such as the Russian-Ukrainian war and climate change. Descriptions of these sessions highlighted the role of “circular economy” models, the reduction of post-harvest food loss (currently at 15% for grain production), and the adoption of eco-friendly packaging through competitions like the “Arab Star Pack Pro“.

The track also explored how digital logistics can mitigate the impact of 100% price hikes in basic commodities like wheat.

Distinguished Speakers and Enhanced Session Overviews | FI Africa & ProPak 2023 Conference

The exhibition featured a curated panel of experts who brought decades of practical and academic experience to the stage:

Dr. Mohamed El Banna | Partner, SME Consulting
- Profile: A seasoned logistics veteran with 18 years of experience as the Marketing & Customer Service Director for K LINE. He holds a DBA in International Transport and Logistics from Ain Shams University and is a certified trainer across the MENA region.
- Talk Summary: “Optimal Use of Supply Chains in Food Security.” Dr. El Banna analyzed the “rippling effects” of global conflicts on Egypt’s $14 billion import backlog, proposing innovation-first solutions to protect the 30% of farming expenditures currently lost to inefficiencies.
Eng. Ashraf El Gazayerli | Chairman, Chamber of Food Industries (CFI)
- Profile: A pivotal figure in Egyptian industry, Eng. Al-Jazayerli leads the CFI in its mission to expand the food sector’s contribution to GDP (currently 24.5%).
- Talk Summary: He addressed the strategic need for factories to “search for local alternatives” to imported raw materials, highlighting that localized “feeding industries” are the only way to insulate the market from international price volatility.
Randa Habib | Principal Consultant, RAPID Consultancy
- Profile: A renowned expert in MEA Food Regulations, Ms. Habib specializes in labeling compliance, health and nutrition, and intellectual property within the F&B sector.
- Talk Summary: “Fighting Food Waste – What’s in it for me?” She provided actionable strategies for manufacturers to improve their bottom line by integrating menu planning and food costing with waste-reduction technologies.
Dr. Nashi Wissa | General Director of Food Imports, NFSA
- Profile: As a leading regulator, Dr. Wissa is instrumental in shaping the technical rules that govern food safety and customs efficiency in Egypt.
- Talk Summary: He outlined the NFSA’s 3-stage risk-based control system, explaining how data-driven inspections on food additives can reduce bottlenecks for importers while safeguarding public health.

Why Partner with SME Consulting?

As the Official SMEs Consulting Partner for FI Africa & ProPak 2023, SME Consulting was uniquely positioned to translate high-level summit discussions into practical business growth.

Official Recognition: Our selection as the consulting partner underscores our technical authority in business strategy and industrial audits.
Technical Logistics Expertise: Led by partners with decades of experience at firms like K LINE, we provide the supply chain solutions discussed during the conference.
On-Ground Implementation: We help SMEs bridge the “knowledge gap” by implementing the food safety and digital transformation strategies highlighted by summit speakers.
Regional Networking: Our presence at the summit allowed us to facilitate direct connections between international exhibitors and local investors, ensuring that conference ideas turned into commercial contracts.

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The strategic guidance SME Consulting offered was a turning point for our sea port’s long-term development. Their deep understanding of trade flows, logistics corridors, and investment planning helped us reshape our port strategy with confidence.

Mostafa Al Maagi

Board Member, Sea Port– Libya

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Elevate your presence in the African F&B market by leveraging the insights from the FI Africa & ProPak 2023 expo.

Whether you are looking for market entry or operational optimization, our consultants are ready to assist.