Bevertech and IPACK-IMA have officially
launched a new internationalisation and incoming programme in West Africa,
marking a strategic step toward strengthening commercial ties between Italy and
one of the world’s fastest-growing food markets.
On 18–19 February, a delegation of qualified buyers and industry operators from Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea visited Italy to participate in a two-day programme focused on advanced technologies for the Liquid Food & Beverage and Grain-Based Food sectors.
Organised in collaboration with UCIMA – the Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association – and ITA – the Italian Trade Agency, the initiative was structured around two key phases. The first day featured networking sessions and B2B meetings at the Phi Hotel Canalgrande in Modena, where participants engaged with more than 40 Italian companies specialising in processing and packaging technologies.
The second day was dedicated to factory visits, organised along two thematic routes: one focused on beverage technologies and the other on grain-based food solutions. For the Liquid Food & Beverage segment, the delegation visited companies including Robopac, Galdi and Frau Group. In the Grain-Based Food segment, visits included Cepi, Ica and Axor, offering buyers first-hand insight into Italian manufacturing excellence and technological innovation.
According to Simone Castelli, CEO of Ipack Ima, the initiative represents the first milestone in the roadmap toward Bevertech, the new exhibition dedicated entirely to technologies for the production, packaging and distribution of Liquid Food & Beverage. Scheduled to take place from 17 to 20 November 2026 at Fiera Milano, concurrently with Simei by Unione Italiana Vini, Bevertech is positioned as a specialised platform designed to foster networking, innovation and cross-sector dialogue.
Castelli emphasised that Bevertech is not only intended to serve as an international showcase for Italian technological solutions—globally recognised for excellence in processing, packaging and material technologies—but also as a strategic hub supporting long-term relationships with qualified operators from priority markets such as West Africa.
The region’s selection reflects strong demographic and urban growth, the expansion of modern retail, and rapid agricultural development, with cultivated land increasing by 70 percent between 2010 and 2022. OECD forecasts indicate that regional food demand is expected to reach USD 480 billion by 2030, signalling significant opportunities for advanced processing and packaging solutions.
Following this initial phase of buyer engagement ahead of Simei and Bevertech, the internationalisation pathway will continue with IPACK-IMA, scheduled to take place from 29 May to 1 June 2028 at Fiera Milano.
According to the latest IPACK-IMA Monitor, the Liquid Food & Beverage technology sector is expected to reach a value of USD 16.9 billion over the next three years, compared to USD 13.9 billion in 2023. Developed through the collaboration between Unione Italiana Vini (UIV) and Ipack Ima, Bevertech aims to position Italy at the centre of a technological ecosystem integrating automation, packaging, traceability and sustainable solutions—reinforcing the country’s leadership in global food and beverage processing technologies.