Italy’s Ambassador to Kenya Roberto Natali when he officially opened the
Italian section of the fair at the Sarit Centre in Nairobi on May 20,
2025/HANDOUTItaly took centre stage at the ProPak East Africa 2025 Expo, held at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi from May 20–22, with 18 Italian companies showcasing cutting-edge, eco-friendly packaging solutions.
The annual trade fair, themed “Unwrapping the Future,” attracted over 150 exhibitors from Kenya and around the world, spotlighting innovations in packaging, printing, plastics and food processing.
The event has grown to become a key platform for promoting sustainable industrial practices across East Africa.
According to the World Bank’s What a Waste 2.0 report, the world generates over 2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste each year, with at least 33 percent of it not managed in an environmentally safe manner.
The report warns that global waste generation could rise to 3.4 billion tonnes in the coming decades due to population growth and rapid urbanisation.
Italy’s strong presence at the expo underscored its interest in the region’s growing packaging industry, which is currently valued at approximately USD 2.2 billion in Kenya alone.
"Kenya is increasingly seen as a strategic partner for Italy, a gateway for investment and long-term collaboration in Africa. This aligns with the Mattei Plan for Africa, launched by the Italian government in early 2024," Italy’s Ambassador to Kenya Roberto Natali said.
The Mattei Plan, he explained, emphasises equal partnerships, allowing Kenya to define priorities in collaborative projects.
He added that Italian entrepreneurs see Kenya as a key market for investment, particularly in the packaging sector.
Natali described the exhibition as “one of the most important commercial events in Nairobi, particularly in the packaging industry".
He noted that Italian exports of packaging machinery to Kenya currently stand at approximately €120 million.
“Italian entrepreneurs are very interested in this sector, and our presence here reflects that enthusiasm,” he said.
Globally, Italy and Germany control around 50 percent of the packaging machinery market.
Italy’s strength lies in its network of small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in the northern regions of Piemonte, Lombardia, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna.
Sylvester Gichobi, representing the Italian Trade Agency in Nairobi, the trade promotion arm of the Italian Embassy, emphasised Italy’s sustained engagement with the Kenyan market.
“We are proud to be participating in ProPak East Africa 2025, where we are hosting 18 leading Italian companies. Notably, many of these companies are returning participants, having been part of the past three annual editions,” he said.
Gichobi said the agency's core mandate is to promote the internationalisation of Italian companies while facilitating investment opportunities for both Italian and Kenyan businesses.
“The packaging sector remains a strategic priority for us, especially considering its valuation in Kenya. Italy holds a significant share of this market, particularly in the export and distribution of advanced packaging machinery,” he said.
He pointed to increasing demand for Italian technology in key Kenyan sectors, including manufacturing, beverages, labelling and paper.
Gichobi also revealed that more than 10 graduates trained in Italy are currently working in manufacturing facilities across Kenya, indicating growing cooperation and technology transfer between the two nations.
