The 5th International Printing and Packaging Technology Exhibition “Printpack Alger” (www.printpackalger.com) and its twin event, the 4th International Plastics and Composites Trade Fair “Plast Alger” (www.plastalger.com), will take place in Algiers / Algeria from 5-7 April 2016. Organiser fairtrade (Heidelberg / Germany; www.fairtrade-messe.de) says more than 160 exhibitors from 24 different countries will showcase their portfolios at the fairs, which are held every two years. The twin exhibitions, considered to be one of the leading innovation platforms for plastics and packaging technology in Africa, are expected to draw more than 3,000 visitors.

While the focus of Plast Alger will be on raw materials, chemicals, plastic packaging machinery and technology as well as parts and components, PrintPack Alger will focus on packaging machines, devices, appliances and materials. Both fairs enjoy the patronage of the Algerian Ministry of Industrial Development and Investment Promotion (www.mipi.dz).

Data published by the German association for plastics and rubber machinery VDMA (KuG, Frankfurt; www.vdma.org) shows that Algeria is Africa’s leading importer of packaging technology and its third largest importer of plastics technology. The country is the continent’s fourth largest economy – ranked behind Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt – and expected to see economic growth rates of 3-6% in the coming years. VDMA says German plastics machinery exports to the country fell by 25% in the first nine months of 2015, to EUR 420m, but the association added that the level of exports in 2013 and 2014 was particularly high as a result of several large-scale projects being realised. Italy is the main supplier of plastics and rubber machinery to the North African country, accounting for 18% of total imports, followed by the US (14%), China (13%) and Germany (12%).

Algeria’s annual plastics raw materials consumption stands at about 1m t, of which half is imported from Europe and Asia, fairtrade says. With a per capita plastics consumption of 8-10kg, there is also enormous future potential, the fair organiser adds. The country is among Africa’s leading importers of both plastics and packaging technology.

e-Service:
“Printpack Alger” flyer as a PDF file
“Plast Alger” flyer as a PDF file