Organisers of the Nigeria agro-food and plast-print pack expo and exhibition 2016, which began Monday in Lagos, are optimistic that in the long-run Nigeria would reduce its high dependence on importation of food, processing and packaging machineries from foreign countries.

Speaking at the event, Managing Director of the German Trade Show Specialists, Fair Trade, organisers of the fair, Mr. Martin März, said Nigeria’s agro-food and Plast print pack is supporting the Nigerian agro-food industry to meet its challenges in terms of food hygiene, food safety, cost efficiency and creation of an ever greater diversity of food and beverage products.

Marz said the food and beverage sector is the largest segment of Nigeria’s manufacturing industry. “The target of agro- food and Plast print pack is to support the Nigerian agro-food industry to meet its challenges in terms of food hygiene, food safety, cost efficiency and creating an ever greater diversity of food and beverage products.

“The sector generates over 1.5 million jobs in the country and employs five per cent of the Nigerian workforce. It is all about technological exchange and co-operation between Nigerian food and drink producers and international specialists for food ingredients and food packaging technology.”

According to Marz, VDMA, the German Engineering Federation, had reported that Nigeria’s import of food processing and packaging machinery between 2010 and 2014 increased to 381 million euros from 198 million euros, indicating a plus of 92 per cent within four years.

“During the same period, imports of packaging machinery and equipment have gone up from 85million Euros to 210million Euros, a plus of 136 per cent, while imports of plastics machinery grew by 61 per cent from 54 million Euros to 87 million Euros.”

Marz added that, it is in responding to the growth, demand and vitality of Nigeria’s agro-food industry that the organisers put up the event.

The event which is to support the Nigerian agro-food industry to meet its challenges in terms of food hygiene, safety, cost efficiency and the creation of an ever greater diversity of food and beverage products saw the technology exchange and cooperation between Nigerian agro-food producers and international technology suppliers.