World Grain - June 2016 - 122

FEATURE

IAOM MEA

DISTRICT CONFERENCE & EXPO

illers will gather this fall in Ethiopia, Sub-Saharan
Africa's largest wheat consumer and fastest growing
economy in the world, for the 27th International
Association of Operative Millers (IAOM) Mideast and Africa
Region Conference & Expo.
The event is Oct. 24-27 at Millennium Hall in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia. The nation boasts an average gross domestic product of
9.6% in the last 10 years, and has a population of 100.4 million.
It has more than 200 mills and grows wheat, teff, maize, beans,
peas, lentils, soybeans, chickpeas and more.
"Even though the country produces food crops, food scarcity
remains an issue due to the country's increasing demand.
Therefore, great opportunities exist for export, commercial
production and processing of these food crops," said Ali Habaj,
IAOM MEA regional director. "Ethiopia also needs new high
technologies for the food processing industry, machinery/
equipment and production design, in addition to state-of-theart packaging systems to improve the country's ventures in
processed foods."
Having the event in Ethiopia is in line with the district's efforts
to connect with millers in Africa, Habaj said.
The IAOM MEA conference program features speakers and
industry experts who will present educational and relevant topics
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and several "What's New" sessions. An expo also is planned
along with several networking and evening events.
A conference program along with registration is available at
http://www.iaom-mea.com/IAOM-ETHIOPIA-2016/.
PANEL DISCUSSIONS
The region is facing challenging times that call for creative,
practical, and sustainable solutions to serve the association's
main goal of advancing education and training opportunities in
the grain milling industries, Habaj said.
The 27th International Association of Operative Millers (IAOM) Mideast and
Africa Region Conference & Expo will be Oct. 24-27 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Photo courtesy of AdobeStock.
122

by Susan Reidy

Event is Oct. 24-27 at Millennium
Hall, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

With that in mind, the district has consulted with the local host,
the Ethiopian Millers Association, on the technical topics and
challenges they would like addressed during the conference.
As a result, the conference will include a panel discussion,
"Feeding the Fastest Growing Economies of East Africa,"
which will feature the region's milling industry leaders and
their success stories. It will be moderated by Martin Schlauri,
managing director, African Milling School, Bühler MEA.
Presenters include: Abubakar Bakhresa, executive director, Said
Salim Bakhresa & Co Ltd., Tanzania; Nick Hutchinson, group
managing director, UNGA Holdings Ltd. and chairman, Cereal
Millers Association in Kenya; and Dan Basse, president and
founder, AgResource in the U.S.
The other panel discussion, "Regional Review: The Modern
Middle East," will focus on the consequences of privatization and
subsidy reforms in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iran,
Egypt, and Jordan. It will be moderated by David McKee, a grain
industry consultant. Panelists include Essa Al Ghurair, chairman,
Al Ghurair Resources in the United Arab Emirates; Walid
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Co.; Seyed Mohammad Reza Mortazavi, director, Federation
of Iranian Food Industries FIAFMI in Iran; Gunhan Ulusoy,
chairman, Turkish Flour Industrialists' Federation (TFIF) and
board chairman, Ulusoy Flour; and Basse.
A welcome reception is from 7-10 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24
at the Sheraton Addis Ababa. The Gala Dinner is 7:30-10 p.m.
on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the African Union Headquarters. The
expo, held at Millennium Hall, will include 92 booths featuring
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industries, allied traders, grain millers and more.
June 2016 / World Grain / www.World-Grain.com

http://www.iaom-mea.com/IAOM-ETHIOPIA-2016/ http://www.World-Grain.com

World Grain - June 2016

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