The inaugural Africa Expo 2022 was launched as the first Business-to-Business (B2B) tradeshow dedicated for African business professionals to showcase their products and services to Malaysia – a strategic gateway opportunity to break into the Asian markets.
Throughout the three days, AE2022 featured exhibitions from over 77 exhibitors, 147 delegates, with 33 hosted buyers and 1257 visitors.
Its aim was to open the market for African products and services to cater to the Asian continent and globally, while encouraging bilateral trade between the two biggest continents in the world – through Malaysia.
Malaysia further strengthened its position as an ideal springboard to the Asia-Pacific market due to its strategic location, ease of doing business, well-connected infrastructure, excellent fibre optic technology, as well as skilled workforce.
The Africa Expo has witnessed 10 major MoUs and 3 NDAs signed during these 3 days’ event! The total worth of this ceremony reached about USD 100million!
H.E. Prof. Hillary Barchok, Governor of County Government of Bomet, Kenya shared that the event encouraged communication between potential partners through the business matching sessions by exchange of ideas and understand the market in the different culture.
“This platform has been astounding as it gives the unimaginable opportunities to connect and creating new contacts and networks.”
“I must say that this should be an annual event. I’ve seen so many industry players have connected to their targeted audience with potential international investments, not just for Africa and Asia but other parts of the world too,” H.E. Prof. Hillary Barchok added
TRADE SUMMIT
In her welcome address, Hema Kandy, Chief Executive Officer, My Events International said:
“I strongly believe that with this trade summit, the meeting of the world’s two largest continents has occurred, and we have given everyone a taste of the magic that can happen, with great potential and opportunities knocking on every door.”
“I hope that this has shown the world that Africa and Asia are competent market resource suppliers across the globe.” she added.
In his officiating address, H.E. Prof. Hillary Barchok, Governor of County Government of Bomet, Kenya said:
“Following the recent African Continental Free Trade Agreement signed by its countries, Africa is a rising power that offers massive, scalable investment and partnership opportunities for Asian trade sectors, as Africa ramps up its economic standing. Thus, the Africa Expo comes at the perfect time to strengthen the alliance between Africa and Asia towards mutually benefiting these two economies.”
Prof. Dr Abdul Kabur Ibrahim, Organising Chairman of AE2022 informed the delegates that the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Africa increased four per cent to US$57 billion, driven by infrastructure investments especially in the Eastern and Southern Africa sub regions. Meanwhile FDI inflows in Southern Africa almost doubled to US$13 billion while investment in Eastern Africa grew 15 per cent to US$6.2 billion.
“This shows that Africa is continuing to sustain its economic and population growth and will attract market-seeking FDI into consumer-oriented industries.”
This trade summit covered the topics:
- Future of Technology Trends
- New Age of Business Enterprise
- Strengthening Trade Partnerships
- Market Access in Asia & Africa
- The Healthcare Transformation Globally
- Developing Economic Corridors to Stimulate Intra-Continent Trade
- Africa-Economical Turbulences & Legal Aspects of Modern Trade
Africa Expo and Trade Summit 2022 successfully ended on Friday, 11th November 2022 with many doors of opportunities opened, and many good working relationships formed.
