FI Africa Strategic Recommendations for 2024
The FI Africa Strategic Recommendations for 2024 are rooted in the critical data and expert dialogues emerging from the FI Africa & ProPak MENA 2023 exhibition. This event served as a focal point for the Middle East and Africa’s F&B sector, where the integration of food ingredients and advanced packaging solutions was identified as the primary driver for regional economic resilience.
As the official consulting partner, SME Consulting has analyzed these discussions to provide actionable intelligence for stakeholders looking to capitalize on the $182 billion Egyptian food market.
About FI Africa & ProPak MENA 2023 and the Integrated F&B Industry
The FI Africa & ProPak MENA 2023 exhibition is the leading industrial platform in the region, uniquely co-locating the “Fi Global” ingredients portfolio with “ProPak’s” processing and packaging expertise. This synergy reflects the modern reality of the industry, where manufacturing excellence depends equally on the quality of raw materials and the efficiency of the packaging lines.
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Industry Synergy: The exhibition hosted over 350 exhibitors and 10,000 visitors from 53 countries, showcasing a value chain where 25% of exhibitors focused on machinery and 15% on ingredients.
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Strategic Scope: Discussions during the conference tracks and published papers covered the entire lifecycle of food production, from “Farm to Fork”, addressing macro-economic issues like the $14 billion import backlog and technical solutions for reducing the 30% post-harvest loss in agricultural expenditures.
Analysis of Discussed Papers and Research Findings
The 2023 exhibition was characterized by the release of several landmark papers that highlight both the risks and the massive opportunities within the African food system:
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AGRA 2023: Empowering Africa’s Food Systems This report identifies the AfCFTA as a game-changer, with the potential to lift 50 million people out of extreme poverty by 2035 through enhanced intra-African trade. It calls for a shift toward “Innovative Finance” and climate-resilient productivity to feed a growing population.
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FAO 2023: Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition The FAO data highlights a sobering reality: 282 million people in Africa were undernourished in 2022. The paper emphasizes that the cost of a healthy diet ($3.57/day) remains out of reach for 78% of the population, signaling an urgent need for the private sector to produce affordable, high-nutrition processed foods.
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SME Consulting: Optimal Use of Supply Chains in Food Security Our proprietary research, presented by Dr. Mohamed El Banna, analyzed how the Russian-Ukrainian war caused 100% price hikes in wheat, impacting 60% of bread production costs. The paper concludes that supply chain management is the most critical factor in achieving food sovereignty in the MENA region.
Strategic Recommendations for 2024
Based on the analysis of these papers and the FI Africa & ProPak MENA 2023 exhibition, we recommend the following strategic pillars for 2024:
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Accelerate “First Level” Manufacturing Localization: Investors should prioritize transforming raw agricultural products into industrial ingredients (e.g., egg pasteurization or specialty flours). This “first level” manufacturing reduces dependency on imports and stabilizes the supply chain for second-level complex food producers.
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Utilization of Uncultivated Natural Resources: There is a critical opportunity to reclaim the 10% to 15% of land that has been abandoned or left uncultivated. Directing these resources toward innovation and sustainable farming can alleviate the regional food deficit.
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Digital Integration and Waste Mitigation: Manufacturers must adopt AgTech and bio-solution technologies to address the 30% loss in farming expenditures. Implementing smart packaging and real-time logistics tracking can significantly improve “customs release” efficiency and food safety.
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Capitalizing on the Demographic Dividend: With 60% of Egypt’s population under 30, businesses should design labor-intensive projects that leverage this youthful workforce to scale production for both local consumption and exports to the $2.1 billion African market.
Why SME Consulting: Your Technical Authority in F&B
As the Official SMEs Consulting Partner for the FI Africa & ProPak MENA exhibition, SME Consulting is uniquely positioned to turn these high-level recommendations into industrial reality:
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Official Strategic Role: We were selected as the technical partner by Informa Markets to bridge the gap between global exhibitors and the Egyptian manufacturing sector.
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Proven Investment Success: Our team manages project portfolios exceeding $1.75 billion and has successfully planned joint ventures worth over $135 million.
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Dual-Market Execution: With active headquarters in Cairo and Riyadh, we provide the regional expertise required to help you scale your F&B business across the Middle East’s most lucrative markets.
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