The second ApiTrade Africa ApiExpo is scheduled for Lusaka, Zambia from October 26 – 29, 2010 at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel.
This premier honey industry event follows the first-ever All-Africa ApiExpo held in Kampala, Uganda in October 2008 under the theme ‘Promoting trade and investments in the African honey industry’.
This year’s Expo will be held under the theme: ‘The role of beekeeping in attaining food security in Africa’. The main aim is to showcase the continent’s apiculture industry by creating awareness on market opportunities, investment opportunities and demonstrate clear relationships between beekeeping and other industries such as tourism (hotel and airlines) and manufacturing (food, commercial crafts, etc.), including environment and climate change.
The theme was selected after careful consultations and numerous studies within the region, revealed that food security is the greatest threat to human life in Africa, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where the majority of the population live on less than $1 a day.
Other objectives encompass the provision of a robust platform for governments and research and development agencies to share experiences and policy interventions in the sector; to expose farmers, processors and exporters to market opportunities and link them to buyers from developed markets; and to create a single vehicle for advocacy on value chain issues which require action at national, regional or international levels.
About 500 delegates including beekeeping, exhibitors, experts, exporters, importers, policy makers, development partners, visitors, etc. are expected to attend the forum. Exhibitors will display technology (beekeeping equipment), innovative R & D projects, high value bee product brands from various companies and countries in Africa. The conference will also have side meetings which will examine related issues pertaining to beekeeping, honey and ancillary issues.
ApiTrade Africa is organizing the event in collaboration with the Zambia Honey Partnership (ZHP) and the Agency for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), a specialized agency of COMESA. A Local Organizing Committee (LOC) has since been constituted to steer the preparations of this high-profile event to success. The Committee has its Secretariat at the Agri-Business Forum (ABF).
For further information contact: The Secretariat, Zambia Honey Partnership, Agri-Business Forum offices, 120 Kudu Road, Kabulonga, Lusaka. Email: firstname.lastname@example.org. Telephone: 00260 211 262936
ISSUED BY: NAWA MUTUMWENO – COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT, ZAMBIA HONEY PARTNERSHIP