The 7th edition of the Abidjan International Agriculture and Animal Resources Exhibition (SARA), the largest agricultural event in West Africa, was officially launched on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, along the banks of the Ebrié Lagoon.
Ivorian Prime Minister Robert Mambé, who also serves as Minister of Sports and Living Environment, presided over the launch of preparations for this key event, scheduled to take place from May 23 to June 1, 2025, at the Abidjan Exhibition Center.
Expressing his satisfaction, Robert Mambé described the exhibition as a “key driver of future employment” in Côte d’Ivoire. Established in 1997, SARA was relaunched in 2015 and has since become a flagship event for the agricultural sector.
Beyond its contribution to food production, agriculture “offers a wealth of untapped opportunities and potential,” the Prime Minister emphasized, announcing that China will be the guest country of honour at SARA 2025.
Following Morocco in 2015, South Africa in 2017, France in 2019, and the Netherlands in 2023, SARA 2025 will spotlight China, globally recognized for its expertise in agriculture and rural development.
China ranks among the world’s leading agricultural producers, excelling in rice, wheat, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, gold, cotton, oilseeds, pork, and fish production.
André Kouassi Kouakou, Commissioner General of SARA 2025, highlighted that “this international platform provides a unique opportunity to bring together stakeholders from the agricultural, livestock, fisheries, and forestry sectors to explore innovative and sustainable solutions.”
SARA has cemented its status as a key forum not only for Côte d’Ivoire but for the entire sub-Saharan African region. The 2025 edition will continue this momentum, aiming to enhance agricultural and agri-food value chains.
It also seeks to “promote technological innovations tailored to local realities, encourage investment in processing infrastructure, and strengthen exchanges between local, regional, and international stakeholders,” he added.
State Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food Production, Adjoumani Kouassi Kobenan, recalled that the 2023 edition, held from September 29 to October 8, attracted 862 exhibitors and over 400,000 visitors.
“Additionally, business meetings resulted in agreements and contracts totaling 403 billion CFA francs, a 69.3% increase from the 238 billion CFA francs recorded in 2019,” he noted.
SARA 2025 will serve as a platform for discussion and strategic planning to address the key theme of its 7th edition: “What Agro-Food Processing Systems for Africa’s Food Sovereignty?”
AP/sf/lb/gik/APA