The official opening ceremony of the International Food Processing & Packaging Fair took place on October 8, 2026 at the Abidjan Exhibition Park, promoted by the Ivorian association APECI.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts of Côte d’Ivoire, Ibrahim Kalil Konaté, representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture and of Animal and Fishery Resources, the FAO, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Côte d’Ivoire, and the Ambassadors of Germany, Italy and Türkiye.
Italy took part with an official Pavilion set up by ITA – Italian Trade Agency, in collaboration with UCIMA (Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association), bringing together more than twenty Italian companies active in the packaging and processing technologies sector.
In his remarks, Minister Konaté highlighted the strategic importance of the packaging sector, given its transversal nature and central role in the agri‑food and manufacturing value chains.
The Ambassador of Italy, H. E. Roberta Di Lecce, underlined the importance of the sector for the Italian industrial system: Italy is currently the second‑largest global producer of packaging and processing machinery, with a 2025 turnover of nearly €10.5 billion, of which around 80% destined for export.
Italy’s presence in Abidjan confirms its commitment to being a stable, long‑term partner for Côte d’Ivoire’s industrial development.
