Plastics and packaging suppliers to exhibit in Morocco

According to a study of the Moroccan Export Promotion Agency Maroc Export, the
plastics and packaging industry is the second most important sector of the chemical processing industry in the country. At the international trade fair for the plastics and packaging industry plast expo & plast pack 2015 the organizers expect 180 exhibitors and 3,000 visitors. This business-to-business event with a clear focus on quality attendees is organised by the Moroccan Plastics Federation FMP, Forum 7 and their German partners fairtrade Messe from Heidelberg. It is scheduled to be held from 3 - 6 June 2015 at the International Fairgrounds of Casablanca – OFEC.

The study of Maroc Export, published by the end of 2014, outlines that the plastics industry is the second most important sector of the chemical processing industry in Morocco. 650 companies with a work force of 45,000 direct and 300,000 indirect employees and a production volume of 550,000 tonnes generated a turnover of 1.15 billion euros in 2013. The packaging sector plays a key role in this industry sector, as 38% of sales are generated by packaging material. In particular, the production of flexible plastic packaging is becoming increasingly important. This is reflected in the figures for imports of packaging machinery and materials. According to VDMA-the German Engineering Association, Morocco imported packaging technology worth 96 million US dollars in 2013.

„Especially for export-oriented companies the trade fair plast expo & plast pack 2015 offers an ideal platform for a successful entry into this important growth market in North Africa. The market development is facilitated by the free trade agreement between Morocco and the EU for industrial products, which entered into force on the 1st of March 2012 as well as visa-free travel for citizens of the EU and Switzerland,” said Martin März, Managing Director with fairtrade. The biennial event plast expo will be held already for the 6th time. With 150 exhibitors from 19 countries and 2,855 trade visitors from 31 countries in 2013, it underlines its status as a confirmed industry hub for Morocco and North Africa. 88 percent of the exhibiting companies said that they would recommend the fair. For 2015, the organizers expect 3,000 trade visitors and 180 exhibitors for the 6th edition of plast expo and the premiere of the plast pack.