The 2025 editions of Food Africa and pacprocess MEA clearly confirmed the dynamic development of the packaging and food industries in Africa and in the Middle East and North Africa region. From 9 to 12 December, around 37,000 visitors travelled to the Egypt International Exhibition Centre in Cairo. For the first time, the number of exhibitors reached around 1,200 companies, and the expanded exhibition grounds, enlarged with an additional lightweight hall, were fully booked. Due to strong demand, the event was scheduled as a four-day show for the first time, underlining the significant need for a permanent business platform for the food, processing and packaging sectors in the region. According to the organisers, Egypt's growing economy, stability and geopolitical position make the country a gateway to Africa and the Middle East and increase the attractiveness of this location.
Growth in scale and a stronger role of the MEA region
According to the organisers, the 2025 editions represent the next stage in the development of both events in recent years. Wolfram N. Diener, President and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, stated that a new milestone in the history of the trade fairs has been reached.
"The successful 2025 editions are a testament to the exceptional development of Food Africa and pacprocess MEA in recent years, reaching a new milestone this year," said Wolfram N. Diener. "The growth of our trade fairs showcases the potential of Africa and the MEA region, which we are unlocking for our customers here. It is a strategic mission for Messe Düsseldorf to continue expanding this framework together with our partners."
Food Africa and pacprocess MEA are organised by Messe Düsseldorf in cooperation with local partners ifp and Konzept. Both events are part of the interpack alliance trade fair network, which focuses on processing and packaging technologies in key markets worldwide.
Dynamic growth across all segments
Compared with the previous year, the trade fairs recorded a significant increase in the number of participants and exhibition space. In 2025, around 1,200 exhibitors from 51 countries presented their portfolios on a total area of 50,000 m². These figures indicate a clear rise in exhibitor numbers, occupied space and the level of international participation compared with the 2024 edition.
The increased scale of the events resulted from the introduction of new country pavilions and the strong return of many long-standing exhibitors who have been participating in the trade fairs for years. Egypt was once again the largest exhibiting nation. Turkey and India were also among the three most strongly represented countries. In total, companies exhibited within 17 country pavilions, providing a broad overview of technologies and products for the food, processing and packaging sectors.
Ten-year anniversary of Food Africa
The year 2025 marked an anniversary for Food Africa. Ten years of development were summarised during a gala evening attended by around 400 invited guests. The ceremony provided an opportunity to recognise companies and institutions that have made a significant contribution to shaping the profile and position of the trade fair over the years.
Awards were presented in several categories, including the "Food Africa Pioneer Exhibitor" distinction. This title went to exhibitors who have been present at the trade fair since its first edition in 2015, having decided to join the project at its debut stage and continuing their involvement to this day.
Rebranding pacprocess MEA as interpack MEA
Over the past six years, pacprocess MEA has evolved in Egypt into an important business platform complementing Food Africa. The event, focused on packaging and production technologies, has helped set directions for the technological and industrial development of the region in these areas. The organisers announced that from 2026 onwards the trade fair will operate under the new name interpack MEA.
This change is strategic in nature and is part of a stronger integration of the event within the interpack alliance network. The aim is to provide clearer positioning for processing and packaging technologies in the markets of Africa and the MEA region, while maintaining the existing joint organisational format with Food Africa. The combined layout of the two trade fairs will therefore remain unchanged, and the renaming is intended to harmonise communication within Messe Düsseldorf’s global event portfolio.
Outlook for the next edition in 2026
The next edition of the events, under the names Food Africa and interpack MEA, is scheduled to take place from 7 to 10 December 2026 at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre in Cairo. The organisers plan to continue the current development path, including further internationalisation, expansion of the exhibition offering and strengthening of the role of the trade fairs as a platform for technology exchange for the food, processing and packaging industries in Africa and the MEA region.
