Sub-Saharan Africa is in Rimini, Italy, starting this week, the 39th edition of Macfrut, a global exhibition dedicated to fruit and vegetables.
The fruit and vegetable sector on the African continent will be at the centre of many events during the “Africa Days,” and Mozambique will be present with seven companies in the sector, ahead of Kenya and Senegal, with six.
According to information advanced by O País, Macfrut is a unique opportunity for African businesspeople to find Italian excellence in the supply chain, establish a network with international customers and investors, showcase their products, expand their export opportunities and access improved technologies.
Under the coordination of the Rome headquarters, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in Nairobi, Dakar and Maputo will bring to the international fruit and vegetable show the most emblematic African flavours, from mangoes, lychees and cashew nuts from Kenya, Mozambique and Senegal.
Of the seven Mozambican companies attending the event, four were selected in collaboration with the United Nations Development Organisation (UNIDO), two in collaboration with the FAR-FP Fundo de Fomento Agrário e Extensão Rural (Public Fund) and one in partnership with NOVAMONT S.p.A.
The companies concerned are engaged in the processing and marketing of seeds and fruits such as avocado, lychee and mango.
A researcher from the Mozambique Agricultural Research Institute (IIAM) and a professor from the Manica Polytechnic Institute (SPM) will also be present.
“We are currently committed with about 69 million euros in the sector, including ongoing initiatives (also in collaboration with international actors, such as UNIDO) and those that will be launched soon, with a synergistic approach for a better management of the main local agricultural supply chains (in particular, fruits and vegetables),” said Paolo Enrico Sertoli, Head of the AICS Office in Maputo.
Sertoli added that the participation of public and private entities from Mozambique in Macfrut is an important opportunity for growth, not only for the people directly involved, but always in a synergistic approach for all actors working with the Italian Development Cooperation in the sector, particularly in Manica province.
