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Iraq’s fast sectoral growth confirmed by impressive VDMA and WTO figures
(Erbil / Istanbul / Heidelberg) Innovative products, technologies and solutions from over 300 exhibitors will once again make the 8th edition of Agro Pack & Food Iraq and the 6th edition of Plast Iraq a significant driving force within Iraq’s industries. Organised by So Fuar and fairtrade Messe, Iraq's largest industry event provides an invaluable platform for professionals to exchange on their business and discuss investments. More than 10,000 professionals from across Iraq and beyond are expected to attend this key industry event. Mark your calendar for 24 to 27 November 2025 at the Erbil International Fairground. Event structure 2025 Hall 1: ● Food Iraq: A platform for showcasing and trading finished food & beverage products. ● Agro Iraq: Showcasing agriculture, crop production, livestock breeding, and poultry. Hall 2: ● Agro Pack Iraq: Focusing on technology and materials for food and beverage processing and packaging, as well as ingredients. ● Plast Iraq completes the value chain spotlighting plastic raw materials, machinery, equipment for plastics processing, printing, and packaging. Review 2024 Iraq‘s largest industry event Agro Pack, Food & Plast Iraq exceeded all expectations with the 2024 edition. The event was honoured by the visit of Prime Minister Barzani’s son and was opened by the KRG Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Agriculture, the Governor of Erbil, Ambassadors and Consuls General of Armenia, Austria, China, Egypt, the European Union, Germany, India, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Sri Lanka, Türkiye and further dignitaries from around the globe. The event attracted 10,362 attendees from across Iraq and a total of 47 countries, as well as 317 exhibitors from 18 countries. Showcasing a wide range of globally renowned suppliers in the agrofood, plastics & packaging industries, the event made an important contribution to positioning Iraq as a modern economic hub. Impressive figures confirm Iraq’s fast growth The dynamic growth of Iraq’s agrofood and plastprintpack sectors is evident in the following figures: ● Agro Pack: Between 2015 and 2023, Iraq’s imports of food and packaging technology increased at an annual growth rate of 15.4%, from €76m to €239m, making Iraq the third largest Arab investor in the Middle East after Saudi Arabia and the UAE (VDMA). These technology imports enable Iraq to develop and diversify its own production, increase exports, and substitute imports of consumables. ● Food Iraq: Food imports also surged between 2017 and 2023, with an annual growth rate of 4.6%, rising from US$ 11.2 bn to US$ 14.7 bn. (WTO) ● Plast Iraq: Iraq’s imports of plastics technology were up with an annual growth rate of 15.7%, from €20m in 2017 to €48m in 2023. Printing & paper technology imports have grown by 34% annually, from €5m in 2017 to €29m in 2023, and imports of packaging technology increased by 17.9% annually, from €47m in 2018 to €107m in 2023. (VDMA)
