Kenya targets packaging sector growth with international expos

KENYA – Kenya is set to boost its packaging and agri-food sectors as the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry-Nairobi Chapter (KNCC&I) and the Institute of Packaging Professionals Kenya (IOPPK) partner with UAE-based MXM Dubai Events to host the 9th AgroFood-PlastPack Exhibition from August 21–23 at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi.

The exhibition will gather more than 200 exhibitors from 20 countries and attract an estimated 10,000 participants, including farmers, food processors, manufacturers, technology providers, investors, and policymakers.

The event will combine three key sectors, agriculture and poultry, food processing, and plastics, paper, and tissue, offering displays of advanced machinery, packaging solutions, storage systems, and livestock technologies.

KNCC&I-Nairobi CEO Christine Mwende said the event would serve as a vital platform for Kenyan enterprises seeking global exposure.

“The AgroFood-PlastPack Exhibition is a platform for innovation, knowledge sharing, and commercial relationships that can transform our agriculture and food processing sectors,” Mwende noted.

Running alongside the exhibition will be workshops, investor roundtables, and business-to-business matchmaking sessions aimed at fostering deal-making and encouraging technology transfer.

MXM Dubai Events organizer Ahsan Rasheed highlighted Nairobi’s strategic importance as a host city.

“Kenya is a gateway to the East African market and a leader in agricultural innovation. We aim to deliver an event that addresses Africa’s unique opportunities and challenges,” he said.

IOPPK CEO Joseph Nyongesa emphasized the role of packaging in economic modernization, saying, “By merging global expertise with local initiatives, we can deliver lasting benefits for businesses, professionals, and the economy.”

The exhibition comes at a time of robust regional growth. East Africa continues to record some of the fastest economic expansion rates in Africa, with Kenya’s GDP estimated at US$132 billion.

According to the World Bank, Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy is projected to grow 3.5% in 2025 and 4.3% by 2027.

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of the Kenyan economy, employing millions and delivering some of the highest returns on rural investment.

Industry analysts suggest that events like AgroFood-PlastPack could catalyze greater adoption of sustainable packaging solutions, a trend increasingly driven by environmental regulations, consumer preferences, and export market requirements.

The convergence of packaging innovation with agricultural and food processing advancements is expected to open new opportunities for value addition and competitiveness in both domestic and export markets.

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