- fairtrade & Messe Duesseldorf jointly hold the 8th plast alger & 9th printpack alger in March 2024. With 5,199 trade visitors from 42 countries and 297 exhibitors from 22 countries, this event was the biggest ever.
- The 2024 edition of agrofood & plastprintpack Nigeria is a complete success, perhaps it’s even been the best ever. 87-year-old Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, one of Africa‘s most respected statesmen and former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, honoured the event with his presence and gave the opening speech, which attracted a great deal of attention from all participants and the Nigerian media. 144 exhibitors from 15 countries, the active participation of key ministries from the new government, both at the Federal and Lagos State levels. Official national pavilions from China, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and South Africa. Top-level 3-day conference with 20+ sessions and 70+ speakers. The 3rd Annual MFI Awards and the Millers for Nutrition Country Launch - powered by TechnoServe via a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation sponsored initiative - the Millers for Nutrition Coalition - M4N.
- 3,483 registered trade visitors from Ethiopia and neighbouring countries discussed their business with 122 exhibitors from 12 countries at agrofood & plastprintpack Ethiopia 2024 in May 2024.
- Iran agrofood 2024 saw 847 exhibitors from 12 countries establishing valuable business contacts with 40,000+ trade visitors.
fairtrade chronicle 1991 – 2024
Thanks to all who have contributed to the success of our events!
2024
2023
- The 6th Agro Pack & 4th Plast Iraq of September 2023 in Erbil sees 222 exhibitors from 16 countries and thousands of trade visitors from all over Iraq and beyond. Marked by official country pavilions from India, Iran, the Netherlands and Türkiye, and by a strong presence of local Iraqi and international market leaders, the event was opened by the Minister of Agriculture, the Deputy Minister of Trade & Industry, the Chairman of the Board of Investment, the Governor of Erbil and the Consuls General of Egypt, Germany, India, Iran, the Netherlands, Qatar, Russia and Türkiye.
- The 6th edition of agrofood & plastprintpack Ghana of November 2023 is a resounding success, marked by the exceptional quality of visitors, diverse conference sessions, and the joyous culmination of not one, but two award ceremonies sent everyone home with smiles of satisfaction. Spearheaded by Her Excellency Daniela d’Orlandi, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy, Tamás Fehér, Ambassador of Hungary to Ghana, Alessandro Gerbino, Head of ITA Ghana & Senegal, Sivine Jansen, Deputy Head of Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany, Wendy van Meel, Deputy Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and attended by numerous dignitaries from Ghana and Europe, the exhibition & conference took a very successful course right from the get-go.
- The 8th agrofood & plastprintpack Nigeria the best ever. Spearheaded by the Honorable Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Federal Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Honorable Commissioner of Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Ruth Abisola Olusanya, and attended by numerous dignitaries from Nigeria and Europe, the exhibition & conference took a very successful course, enriched also by the 2023 MFI Awards and the Spotlight 2023 on Beverages – Production & Ingredients.
- 5th agrofood & plastprintpack Ethiopia: 3,558 trade visitors discussed their business with 138 exhibitors from 16 countries - a resounding success, featuring national pavilions from China, Germany, India, Italy, a Korea information stand, Kuwait and Türkiye.
- Impressive 30th Iran agrofood anniversary edition featuring 40,000+ trade visitors and 700 exhibitors from 16 countries in 18 halls.
2022
- The 7th agrofood & plastprintpack Nigeria from 22-24 March back strong! Exhibitors and visitors thoroughly enjoyed the overall concept consisting of an impressive international trade exhibition, a sophisticated 3-day conference program and an unforgettable Exhibitors Beach Party. Global technology leaders from 15 countries showcased adapted technologies and solutions for the Nigerian and West African market.
- fairtrade & Messe Duesseldorf jointly hold the 7th plast alger & 8th printpack alger on 16-18 May. What an exhibition! After 2 covid influenced years, plast & printpack alger 2022 marked the powerful restart for the Algerian plast & printpack industry. 110 exhibitors from 18 countries presented technology innovations and solutions specifically suited to the Algerian market to 3,675 professionals from 42 countries.
- Amazing exhibitor satisfaction ratings at the 29th edition of iran agrofood from 17-20 June as 40,000+ trade visitors discussed their investments with 616 exhibitors from 17 countries in 18 halls. The decades-long success story of this event as the most important agrofood platform for Iran and its neighbouring countries thus continued with the 2022 event.
- The 5th Agro Pack & 3rd Plast Iraq is on from 22-24 November 2022 at the Erbil International Fairground, seeing 7,774 trade visitors from all over Iraq and a total of 27 countries to talk business with 196 exhibitors from 10 countries. For the first time, Agro Pack & Plast Iraq covers Hall 1 and Hall 2, making it the largest ever. The event is marked by official country pavilions from India, Iran, the Netherlands and Türkiye, and by a strong presence of local Iraqi and international market leaders in crop and animal production, food, beverage and packaging technology, food & hospitality, plastics raw materials and technology.
- The 7th edition of agrofood & plastprintpack West Africa 2022 has exhibitors participating from Belgium, Burkina Faso, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Ivory Coast, Morocco, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates and USA. 1,384 Ghanaian and West African professionals from the agrofood & plastprintpack industry discuss their business with 98 exhibitors from 22 countries. The event is held from 29 November to 01 December 2022 at the state-of-the-art Trade Center Arena at the Accra International Conference Centre and it is again supplemented by a 3-day program full of presentations and conferences.
2021
- Due to the Corona crisis, trade shows in Africa & the Middle East are not possible between January and August 2021.
- However, fairtrade can organise 3 trade fairs in September and October, namely Iran agrofood in Tehran, agrofood & plastprintpack Ethiopia in Addis Ababa and agrofood & plastprintpack Nigeria in Lagos. All three events receive high satisfaction ratings from exhibitors and trade visitors.
- In addition, in cooperation with So Fuar, the 4th AgroPack and 2nd plastprintpack Iraq were successfully organised in Erbil by the end of November. Here, 171 exhibitors discussed business with 7,879 visitors from 19 countries. “The show has definitely exceeded our expectations by leaps and bounds as we met customers from all the Iraqi provinces”, said one of the exhibitors.
- 30 years fairtrade
2020
- fairtrade & Messe Duesseldorf jointly hold the 6th plast alger & 7th printpack alger on 09-11 March. Algerian and European institutions and exhibitors were satisfied, especially with the impressive quality of the 3,162 visitors from 25 countries. Due to the pandemic, the registered Asian exhibitors have already been unable to participate.
- Immediately afterwards, the COVID-19 pandemic brings economic life around the world to a standstill. Trade fairs have to be postponed, some to autumn, others to next year.
- fairtrade goes virtual and organizes Virtual agrofood & plastprintpack Africa – Virtual for all Africa from 23 to 26 November. A total of 2,325 registered attendees from 87 countries connected, established 5,320 contacts and exchanged 15,791 messages. In the event exhibitors, attendees and speakers gathered to connect, learn and talk business. CONNECT: 64 exhibitors from 17 countries received 8,028 visits, their products were consulted 1,851 times. LEARN: 3,356 unique viewers attended the panel sessions, presentations & product demos. An amazing number of 98 speakers presented in 69 sessions, a program highly appreciated by all. TALK BUSINESS: Attendees received 11,452 visits from exhibitors as well as from other attendees and from speakers. These facts make Virtual for all Africa the most important agrofood & ppp online event with Africa focus.
2019
- fairtrade goes Baghdad: For the first time iraq agrofood & plastprintpack was successfully held in Baghdad
- fairtrade joins forces with So Fuar for Agro Pack & plastprintpack Iraq Erbil
- Biggest ever agrofood & plastprintpack Nigeria featuring 2,094 visitors (+35%) and 120 exhibitors from 24 countries
- Successful iran agrofood in difficult times of sanctions: 888 exhibitors from 21 countries discussed business with 40,000+ visitors from all over Iran and neighboring countries
- Extremely successful 3rd agrofood & plastprintpack Ethiopia with 3,205 visitors (+20%) from 20 countries and 153 exhibitors (+170%) from 18 countries
2018
- Opened by the Ivorian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, European ambassadors and other dignities, the 5th agrofood & plastprintpack West Africa 2018 was for the first time held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. And it was completed with great success as a remarkable number of 1,461 visitors discussed their business with 80 exhibitors from 17 countries and more than 50 speakers from around the globe participated at high-profile conferences.
- fairtrade announces two new shows to be launched in April 2019 in Baghdad: iraq agrofood & plastprintpack iraq
- The 25th iran agrofood proudly presented 25 official country pavilions and occupied the entire Tehran International Fairgrounds. 1,225 exhibitors from 29 countries welcomed more than 40,000 visitors from all over Iran and the entire region
- Very successful 2nd agrofood & plastprintpack Ethiopia with 2,673 visitors from 9 countries and 58 exhibitors from 18 countries
- Great 22nd elcomUkraine with 284 exhibitors (+12%) discussing business with 10,217 visitors (+12%)
- Biggest ever agrofood & plastprintpack Nigeria featuring 142 exhibitors (+30%) from 21 countries
- plast alger powered by K & printpack alger powered by drupa - for the first time co-organised between fairtrade and Messe Düsseldorf: 5,003 visitors (up 15%) from 29 countries discussed their business with 261 exhibitors (+57%) from 24 countries
- Family business: Paul März strengthens the management team at fairtrade
Since January 2018 fairtrade is being managed by a dual management team, since Paul März joined the management board as the second managing director alongside his father Martin.
Paul joined fairtrade in January 2016 as Exhibition Director. He previously worked for Messe München, first in the strategy department, then as Exhibition Director for the ISPO trade shows in China. Immediately after his studies, he started his career with a renowned consulting firm focusing on strategy and controlling of large enterprises. After studying in Mannheim, Toulouse and Buenos Aires, Paul graduated from the University of Mannheim and holds a degree in business administration.
2017
- agrofood & plastprintpack West Africa 2017 closes on a positive note
- DLG and fairtrade enter into strategic partnership for fairtrade’s agro events of their agrofood shows in Africa
- iran telecom innovations 2017 opened by the Minister of ICT and his deputies – 40,000 visitors discussed business with 200+ exhibitors from 16 countries
- Biggest ever iran agrofood with 1,405 exhibitors from 39 countries and 40,000+ visitors featuring iran food + bev tec, iran food + hospitality and iran agro and - for the first time - iran food ingredients
- Successful launch within iran food + bev tec: Special Showcase Bakery, Pastry & Foodservice with 64 exhibitors of 13 countries
- Very successful 21st elcomUkraine with rising visitor and exhibitor numbers, 256 exhibitors - up 27%
- Start of marketing cooperation between iba and iran food + bev tec
- Biggest ever agrofood & plastprintpack Nigeria – Visitor numbers up 15% to 1,958. Exhibitor numbers up 28% to 110 from 20 countries
- Marketing cooperation signed between Messe München’s drinktec and fairtrade’s food + bev tec events
- Launch of agrofood plastpack Ethiopia 2017 in Addis Ababa with the participation of 2,615 visitors from 33 countries and 60 exhibitors from 14 countries
- Celebrating 25 years of cooperation with Palar Samaneh, Tehran
2016
- Celebrating 25 years fairtrade 1991 – 2016
Messe Düsseldorf enters as an equal partner with fairtrade into cooperation for plast & printpack alger - iran telecom innovations: a record number of 225 exhibitors (+32%) from 23 countries showcased a broad picture of the Iranian ICT market and discussed business with more than 40,000 professional visitors
- Biggest ever iran food + bev tec, iran food + hospitality and iran agro with 1,443 exhibitors from 49 countries and 40,000+ visitors
- Very successful agrofood & plastprintpack Nigeria – Visitor numbers up 26% to 1,704 and 86 exhibitors from 21 countries
- Celebrating 20 years elcomUkraine with 190 exhibitors and 7,080 visitors
- 41% more visitors at extremely successful plast & printpack alger with 166 exhibitors from 16 countries and 4,360 visitors
- Launch of AfricaBuild Lagos 2016 in Nigeria in cooperation with ITE with the participation of 91 exhibitors from 16 countries and 1,223 visitors
2015
- Launch agrofood & plastprintpack Nigeria in Lagos, Nigeria with the participation of 91 exhibitors from 26 countries and 1,349 visitors
- Start cooperation with ITE on AfricaBuild Lagos 2016
- Biggest ever iran food + bev tec, iran food + hospitality and iran agro with 947 exhibitors from 22 countries and 30,000+ visitors
- Vienna agreement between Iran and world powers of 14 July 2015
- To mark the new era of Doing Business in Iran and to take account of the technological developments in the past 15 years, iran telecom has been renamed in iran telecom innovations and a new logo was introduced
- Record number of visitors at iran telecom innovations 2015 with 40,000+
- Re-launch of fairtrade-messe.de in responsive design
2014
- 15 years iran telecom, with 32,000+ industry professionals discussing business with more than 200 exhibitors from 17 countries
- Very successful plast & printpack alger with 161 exhibitors from 24 countries and 3,083 visitors
- Start cooperation with AHK Nigeria and Nigerian-German Business Association for agrofood & plastprintpack Nigeria
2013
- Launch of the fairtrade interactive Industry Portals “energy and electro”, “plast print pack” and “agrofood”.
Exhibitors and visitors can connect before, during and after the event.
The entry is activated all year round, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Benefits: Detailed profile of company and products; B2B: Possibility to make appointments for the event; Maximum exposure to targeted buyers; Continuous visibility of products and services. Exhibitors are contacted by our editorial team to help create the listing so that customers can easily locate their services through the powerful search engine. - 20 years iran agro, iran food + bev tec and iran food + hospitality, with 32,200 industry professionals discussing business with 766 exhibitors from 17 countries
- 10 years daughter company “Eurl fairtrade expo” in Algiers
- 15 years iran telecom in Tehran
- Launch agrofood & plastprintpack West Africa in Accra, Ghana
- Start cooperation with AHK Accra on WACEE 2013 in Accra, Ghana
2012
- Launch of the fairtrade interactive Industry Portal for electro, automation & energy; for plast & printpack alger; for iran agro, iran food + bev tec and iran food & hospitality; for elec expo & EneR Event.
- 20 years cooperation with Palar Samaneh in Tehran
- Start cooperation with Pegasus on iftech food + bev tec and Plasti & Pack in Karachi, Pakistan
- Start cooperation with Siberia Expo and Euroindex on elcomRossija in Novosibirsk, Russia
- Start cooperation with Duale Hochschule (University of Cooperative Education) Baden-Württemberg in Mannheim to train students with degree Bachelor of Arts - Department of Business Administration - Exhibition, Convention and Event Management (duration 3 years; earlier Diplom-Betriebswirt/in BA).
- Eurl fairtrade expo Algeria’s management system gets ISO 9001:2008 certified
2011
- Launch of the first fairtrade interactive Industry Portal for elec expo.
- Exhibitors and visitors can connect before, during and after the event. The entry is activated all year round, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Benefits: Detailed profile of company and products; B2B: Possibility to make appointments for the event; Maximum exposure to targeted buyers; Continuous visibility of products and services. Exhibitors are contacted by our editorial team to help create the listing so that customers can easily locate their services through the powerful search engine.
- 20 years fairtrade
- 15 years elcomUkraine in Kiev
- elec expo & EneR Event in Casablanca, Morocco, start cooperation with Fenelec and Forum7
2010
- Launch plast alger in Algiers, Algeria
- 15 years of cooperation with Euroindex in Kiev
2009
- fairtrade becomes member of ufi- The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry
- plast expo, alitec and printpack expo maroc in Casablanca, Morocco. Start cooperation with FMP and Forum7
- Start cooperation with Forum 7 on Salon Santé in Casablanca, Morocco
- 10 years cooperation with Forum7 in Casablanca
- fairtrade Germany’s management system gets ISO 9001 : 2008 certified
2008
- 10 years iran telecom in Tehran
- Launch printpack alger in Algiers, Algeria
2007
- Launch electro, automation & energy in Algiers, Algeria
- Start of cooperation with Safex, Algiers on SIAC in Algiers, Algeria
- Integrate new event Djaz.IT alongside with alger telecomp in Algiers, Algeria
- Beginning of the training of students with degree Bachelor of Arts - Department of Business Administration - Exhibition, Convention and Event Management (duration 3 years; earlier Diplom-Betriebswirt/in BA) in cooperation with the Duale Hochschule (University of Cooperative Education) Baden-Württemberg in Ravensburg. With practical training at fairtrade and with the study at the University of Cooperative Education, students combine practical and academic training in the best possible way.
2006
- Launch of Finance Tec in Algiers, Algeria
2005
- Diversification of iran agrofood into iran agro, iran food + bev tec, iran food + hospitality
- Launch Telecom Arabiya in Manama, Bahrain
2004
- Start cooperation with the Algerian ministry of Public Works and with IMAG, Munich on SITP
2003
- Established “Eurl fairtrade expo” as 100% daughter company in Algiers, Algeria
- Established fairtrade Branch Office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates as platform for Middle East activities
2002
- Launch alger energy in Algiers, Algeria
- 10 years cooperation with Palar Samaneh in Tehran
- Start supporting SOS VILLAGE D’ENFANTS in Algiers and Casablanca
2001
10 years fairtrade
Launch alger telecomp in Algiers, Algeria
2000
- Launch iran telecomp in Tehran, Iran
- Launch Telecomp Maroc in Casablanca, Morocco
1999
- Launch Cairo agrofood in Cairo, Egypt
- Start cooperation with Forum7 in Casablanca
1997
- Established fairtrade Office in Heliopolis, Cairo - Egypt for activities in North Africa
- Established fairtrade Tashkent office in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Launch elcomUkraine in Kiev, Ukraine
- Launch Cairo Telecomp in Cairo, Egyp
- Launch Caucasia agrofood and elcom Caucasia in Tblissi, Georgia
- Launch Central Asia Shoe + Textile in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
1996
- Launch elcom Asia and Central Asia agrofood in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Launch elcom Siberia in Novosibirsk, Russia
- Launch elcom Ural and Ural agrofood in Yekaterinburg, Russia
- Launch of Baltic Agrofood in Riga, Latvia
1995
- Launch Vietnam agrofood in Saigon
- Start cooperation with Euroindex, Kiev
- Start building up a powerful network of agencies and partnerships throughout the world
1994
- Launch agro Asia & elcom Asia in Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Launch iran agrofood in Tehran, Iran
1993
- Launch electroBalt in Vilnius, Lithuania
- Established fairtrade Vilnius office as a fairtrade daughter company in Vilnius, Lithuania
1992
- Launch first fairtrade shows Baltic Info & Baltic Shoe + Textile in Vilnius, Lithuania
- Start cooperation with Palar Samaneh, Tehran