The event, which was launched in response to the government’s commitment to industrialisation and Nigeria’s need to diversify, welcomed more than 2600 manufacturing experts over three days last month.
The Nigeria Manufacturing Expo featured the latest and most innovative machines, tools, automation technology and specialist financial offerings from the more than 80 leading international and local manufacturing equipment and services suppliers over 2300m² of exhibition space.
Attendees represented 24 different countries while 30 manufacturing expert speakers addressed hundreds during the free-to-attend conference sessions on the expo floor.
The top manufacturing industries represented, included: Agro, Food, Beverage & Tobacco Processing; Packaging; Labeling; Printing, Graphics & Converting; Plastics & Rubber Processing; Textile Production; Shoe Making; Tanning; Automotive Assembly; Metal Working, Foundry and Metallurgy; Glass Making & Processing; Cement Making; Ceramic Making; Pharmaceutical & Medical Processing; Cosmetic Processing; Electronics Production & OEM Assemblies; Chemical Processing; Plastic and Rubber Processing; Wood-Working and FMCG.
The sold-out expo floor featured leading international and local suppliers of industrial automation equipment and machine tools including: GEA West Africa, Clearpack, Kautex, Festo Automation, Miele Packaging, Gil Automation and Thomson & Grace, who were gold sponsors.
The exhibition also featured international country pavilions from Indian and Germany as well as a Nigeria Manufacturers Pavilion where Made-in-Nigeria produce was promoted.
There was also a significant showing from leading private sector banks who were providing financing for machinery acquisition, such as: Sterling Bank, Fidelity Bank, Ecobank, Zenith Bank, Diamond Bank, Access Bank, Accion Microfinance bank, Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited and Union Bank of Nigeria.
“The huge attendance at the Nigeria Manufacturing Expo exceeded our expectations,” said event director Russell Hughes. “It is our aim… to create an enabling environment in which local production can prosper. We believe that Nigeria is the next global manufacturing hub.”
The event also enjoyed support from the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment of Nigeria, and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
The event also hosted a policy level discourse in the co-located, third annual mPAD (Manufacturing Partnerships for African Development) round table sessions during which regulatory challenges within the sector were discussed.
Event director Russell Hughes, explained: “The goal of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan is to increase the contribution of the manufacturing sector to GDP from the present 4% to more than 10% over the next five years. This will boost the annual revenue earnings of the Nigerian manufacturers by up to $25bn per annum.”
The invitation-only set of round table discussions at mPAD were chaired by the President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Director of the Trade Department and Director of Industrial Development and Inspectorate Department of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment of Nigeria.
Also attending were federal government agencies, ECOWAS officials, the MAN executive committee, international trade departments and export councils as well as C-level industrialists and financiers.
The Nigeria Manufacturing Expo, featuring mPAD, was organised in partnership by Spintelligent Pty, Clarion Events Ltd, African event specialists and organisers of the West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC).
The Nigeria Manufacturing Expo 2016 Post Event Report is now available to download.
