Within the framework of the project “Investment Promotion for Iraq – Phase II”, UNIDO ITPO Italy - in collaboration with the on-site project staff - arranged the participation of 6 Iraqi companies at SIGEP, the International Trade Show of Artisan Gelato, Pastry, Bakery and the Coffee World held this year online from 15 to 17 March, and also supported their participation in almost 30 B2B meetings with Italian exhibitors.

The selected Iraqi companies - Botan Group, AlKhassaki Co, Bab Alagha Co., Vevey, Al Seemaa and Al Zubair - from Basra, Erbil and Thi-Qar are particularly relevant at national level and are mainly operating in the sectors of catering, facility management services, food industry, confectionery industry and sweet & pastry.

Throughout the B2B sessions, the counterparts discussed the Iraqi needs in terms of innovative technologies for refrigeration and packaging for innovative local production, as well as the purchase of semifinished food products.

Thanks to some very positive feedbacks from all the counterparts involved, the B2B meetings allowed to pave the way for and facilitate business collaborations with Italian companies interested in the Iraqi market, and to discuss potential joint ventures for the development of a production plant for dough, sweets and chocolate in Iraq.

Insight

The 2021 edition of SIGEP featured 250 exhibitors and 268 buyers from 60 Countries, with a total of around 2.500 meetings in 1.250 hours online, and almost 24 millions of social media accounts reached. The next edition will take place in Rimini, Italy, from 22 to 26 January 2022.