Hundreds of metal industry professionals converged on Cairo this week for the debut of the wire and Tube Middle East Africa events, held alongside GIFA and METEC Middle East Africa at METAL & STEEL EGYPT, hosted at the Egypt International Exhibition Center from 2 to 4 September. The four Messe Düsseldorf satellite fairs collectively presented machinery, technology, materials and services from the wire, cable, tube, foundry and metallurgy sectors to a captivated audience.
Representatives from 383 companies across 19 nations—including the UK, France, Austria, Belgium, Turkey, Spain, Switzerland, Morocco, the USA, Germany, and Egypt—set up booths to introduce technologies tailored for the MENA region’s infrastructure and industrial expansion. AGEX, the long-standing organiser behind METAL & STEEL EGYPT since 2010, partnered with Messe Düsseldorf to maximise regional synergies and draw international attention.
Event organisers reported that over 7,000 professionals attended the three-day exhibition, roughly 10 per cent of whom travelled internationally. The show floor buzzed with activity as visitors explored site demonstrations, networked with equipment manufacturers, and evaluated cutting-edge production solutions.
According to Messe Düsseldorf, the satellite fairs are strategically positioned within a broader expansion across North Africa and adjacent regions. CEO Wolfram N. Diener emphasised Egypt’s dual role as a major home market and gateway to Sub-Saharan Africa. He also highlighted Cairo’s appeal as a springboard for growth across various industries—specifically casting, metallurgy, tube and pipe production, and wire and cable manufacturing.
Bernd Jablonowski, Executive Director of Trade Fairs at Messe Düsseldorf, underscored a collaborative dialogue with Egypt’s Ministry of Trade and Industry. In April, a meeting was held between Minister Ahmed Samir Saleh and Jablonowski, focusing on intensifying cooperation on exhibition infrastructure and cross-border trade projects.
Messe Düsseldorf’s North Africa push follows earlier successful ventures, such as pacprocess MEA in 2019 and FoodAfrica Cairo in 2022, each drawing over 25,000 attendees and hundreds of exhibitors. The combination of these established events with the new metal, wire and tube platforms reflects a strategy to deepen integration across the industrial value chain—from food and packaging to heavy machinery.
Eyewitnesses described the hall as “energetic”, with meaningful conversations between attendees and exhibitors about Egypt’s booming construction and infrastructure agenda. Delegates from across Africa, the Middle East and Europelined the aisles at booths showcasing automation technologies, environmental efficiency protocols, and sensor-based quality control tools for wire, cable and tube production.
Daniel Ryfisch, director overseeing the “Bright World of Metals” portfolio for Messe Düsseldorf, highlighted abundant opportunities emerging from Egypt’s push into renewable energy, pipeline fabrication, and industrial modernisation.
Organisers confirmed that a second edition of the combined fairs is scheduled for early 2025 in Cairo. Specific dates will be finalised in consultation with AGEX and aligned with Messe Düsseldorf’s international metal portfolio. Exhibitor registrations are already open, with deadlines due 16 May 2025.
