Celion Su

On 20th July， Africa Food Show （AFS） opened to strengthen food value chains amid the COVID-19 global pandemic， the events organizers said. The event virtually took place through the digital platform "Global Trade Week" due to travel restrictions imposed by governments globally to contain the pandemic. The event gathered about 300 exhibitors from about 16 countries and regions， including China， according to the organizer. The five-day show played host to some of the most cutting-edge trends in food and agriculture and showcase groundbreaking new products and technologies.

The exhibition received strong support from relevant government organizations. Qatar National Development Bank was the gold sponsor of the online digital exhibition， and the US Meat Export Federation（USMEF） participated as a group. In addition， Dr. Nevine Gamaa， Minister of Industry and Trade of Egypt； Mr. Anani Demuyakor， Ambassador of Ghana； Mr. Anthony Muriithi， Director of Kenya Agriculture and Food Bureau； Ms. Wairimu Mbarire， Chairman of Kenya Retail Traders Association，；Mr. Ataho George， CEO of Ugan Jedi Farms； Mr. Isabirye Farouk Lubanga of Busoga Grain Trading Co.， Ltd. of Uganda； Mr. Rodney Mukula， President of Uganda Asante Agriculture Co.， Ltd.； Mr. Naji El Haddad， Regional Manager of International Association of Exhibition Industry； Wang Hailin， President of MIE Group， attended the online Opening Ceremony and delivered speeches.

Wang Hailin said that Africa Food Show virtual exhibition was the timely solution they had designed to help food manufacturers， buyers， distributors and suppliers recover from the impact of COVID-19， based on our 20 years of offline exhibition resources. The AFS was currently the first digital food exhibition held in Africa. It would use the "GTW" digital exhibition platform to achieve more transactions and sales， and promote the interconnection of African and global food products.

The Ambassador of Ghana Mr. Anani Demuyakor said that Africa is an emerging investment market， and Ghana is the leader of the West African economy. With the gradual control of the domestic epidemic in Ghana， in the next few decades， Ghana will continue to have access to food， medical， infrastructure and other fields huge investment space.

Ms. Wairimu Mbarire， Chairman of the Kenya Retail Traders Association， confirmed that the domestic market in Kenya is in strong demand. She believed that the holding of digital trade in Africa would promote the interconnection of global food companies and would become the smoothest way of foreign trade under the epidemic.”

Mr. Dan Halstrom， Chairman of the American Meat Export Federation， first thanked the organizer MIE Group for the online food exhibition. He said that the purpose of the American Meat Export Federation is to open up business opportunities for the import and export of meat products in the United States. Foreign trade networks have been established all over the world to closely connect buyers and sellers around the world to build a fair international business environment with fewer trade barriers. The members participated in this years African Food Show aiming to expand business opportunities under the epidemic.

Mr. Naji El Haddad， UFI Regional Manager， expressed his confidence in the success of this years African Food Show. He pointed out that offline exhibitions have encountered unprecedented impacts due to the epidemic， and digital exhibitions have brought new changes in the exhibition industry. As a member of UFI， MIE Group had the ability to hold online activities and he wished this event can help companies develop new markets.