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Dairy Program > Highlights

ESADA LAUNCHES FIRST AFRICAN DAIRY CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION

The Eastern and Southern Africa Dairy Association (ESADA), together with its partner RATES, organized the first African Dairy Conference and Exhibition held form May 23rd -25th, 2005. Over 180 attendees from more than 20 countries converged at Nairobi's picturesque Safari Park Hotel to attend the inaugural event. Notable attendees included Mr. Jim Begg, President of the International Dairy Federation, Mr. Philippe Jachnic, former President of the IDF, Mr. Erastus Mwencha, COMESA Secretary General, Hon. Joseph Munyao, Kenya's Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development, and Mr. Tom Verdoorn, Vice President for Land O'Lakes, Inc's International Development Division. For three days, participants had the opportunity to attend industry-led sessions that focused on key value chain constraints and marketing and trade opportunities facing the regional dairy sector.

In his key note address, Jim Begg of the IDF emphasized the role of the IDF in promoting the larger interest of the global dairy industry and the need for more African countries to become members. Most encouraging, he announced that the IDF had decided to amend its membership structure to allow regional associations' membership. This was in response to an earlier request made by the newly formed ESADA to join the IDF. (photo Begg.tiff)

The Exhibition, located just next to the conference venue, attracted over 20 exhibitors from a number of dairy-producing countries including India, Bulgaria, South Africa, the Netherlands, France, Zambia, Uganda, UAE and Kenya. Exhibitors included dairy processors, packaging materials and equipment suppliers, manufactures and distributors of food ingredients, and veterinary pharmaceuticals suppliers. The Exhibition was officially opened by Hon Joseph Munyao, the Kenyan Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development. (Photo exhibition. tiff)

The conference delegates were also treated to an array of exciting social events which included a welcome cocktail at the exclusive Hemingway's Lounge, an African cheese and wine tasting, a welcome dinner and live show at the Nyama Choma Ranch, tours of the Spin Knit Dairy Plant, Tetra Pak Factory and the Nairobi National Park. The event concluded with an awards dinner sponsored by ESADA.

To confirm milk as the "Drink of Champions", the social events, including the welcome and the closing dinners, were graced by outstanding sports personalities in Kenya including Ms Conjestina Achieng, the reigning Africa and World Women Boxing Middleweight Champion. Spin Knit Dairy and others offered to support Conjestina in her quest to capture the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship title currently held by Ms Leila Ali of the USA. These special events were all sponsored by local and regional partners including Safari Park Hotel, Combibloc SIG of UAE, Tetra Pak, Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Authority (RIEPA) and ESADA.

In his closing address, the United States Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. William Bellamy, reiterated the need for dairy processors in the region to work together to overcome challenges of chain inefficiencies, low milk consumption and stiff competition from other beverages. He said the US government, through such programs as RATES and Land O'Lakes, will continue to partner with regional governments and the private sector to promote the growth and development of the dairy industry in Sub-Saharan Africa.