"Africa has been the most promising and potential market for China recovering from global financial crisis", one reporter once pointed out. With the European and American economic contraction and global economic slowing down, Africa, the place that was always ignored in the past, now comes into the sight of Chinese exporting companies.

Algeria is second only to South Africa in economy, with 25% proportion of total Africa importation value, being as one of the main agricultural and foods importing countries in Africa. The population of Algeria is over 3,000,000, and 95% are resident in Algiers. Since nineties, the grains harvested from Algeria itself is only enough for 30% of total domestic demands, so they have to yearly import 2,000 to 2,500 million dollars of grains and other foods from other countries.

Algeria Djazagro started in 2003, organized by the biggest exhibition company in France- Comexposium, who also has hosted SAIL series of expo. It is held annually since then. Because of its specialty on foods and global influence, DJAZAGRO confirmed its position as "The Most Well Deserved Recommendation Expo" on food industry in Algeria and other Maghrebian areas.

The 7th international trade show DJAZAGRO is held from May 18th to 21st 2009, in Algiers National Exhibition Centre - Safex. This time DJAZAGRO regroups 415 companies that come from 19 countries, while 80% are international exhibitors. The international exhibitors are mainly from Algeria, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, China, etc. The exhibition area covers 12,000 square meters; which increases by 22% in comparison with 2008. This increasing number, seen during the period when global financial crisis is still spreading, undoubtly increases people's longings and mystery towards North Africa market.

The China pavilion exclusive agent of this expo is 21Food. It is known from 21Food responsible person Judy Zhang that, "The China pavilion organized by 21Food for the first time are about 20 companies, mainly with the foods such as tea, canned foods, fruits, vegetables, bakery machineries, beverage machineries and dairy products. Some of them have already had business partners in North Africa, while most come for the first time."

Judy Zhang expressed, "In the past, there seldom were Chinese companies attending this expo, because the organizing committee attached great importance on promotion in Middle East and European Countries, so African food importing relied on that two regions in long term; Chinese market had been ignored all the time. This year is the first time for 21Food organizing China pavilion, although the preparation time is short, what's more, the global financial crisis is spreading, there are about 20 companies attending, which is really amazing. Just like what the Chinese exhibitors told us, we should even make more efforts by going global and promotion, then once economy recovers, all our efforts will yield good results, doubles of gains more than in normal economy period promotion"

In overseas expo, the attended visitors' quality influences exhibitors' exhibiting results in great extend. As for the situation in the exhibition, Judy Zhang pointed out, "The main language of Algeria is French and Arabic, so most Chinese exhibitors employed interpreter for assistance. Some even need two interpreters because of busyness. The Chinese companies are from Anhui, Zhejiang, Xinjiang and Guangdong. There is one fruit and agricultural products exhibitor coming from Shandong, they receive more than 30 buyers' inquiring only in the first two days, because their fruits are rather favored by buyers. In Algeria, fresh fruits almost all depend on importing from all over the world. While China is the main fruits exporting country, so no wonder they are so popular."

"415 exhibitors is indeed not so much to mention compared with COLOGNE or SIAL, but in Algeria, it has really reached in some scale. We had applied booths for two times, but because of the exhibition hall area is limited, many Chinese companies failed to get one good position. However, after this expo, all of these exhibitors express that they get what expected, and will come again next year. Some of them have already booked booths for 2010". Judy Zhang has some deep feelings about it when referring this.

21Food attends almost 20 international exhibitions every year. At the scene of exhibition, 21Food collect buyers' buying list, which is the first-hand valuable information for food companies connecting with new emerging market, and then send to the 21Food premium member Gold Suppliers. Besides leading and organizing China pavilion, the other commission of Judy Zhang is to collect buyers' buying leads. The buyers are mainly from Europe, Africa, Algeria and other surrounding countries. She also receives buyers from Germany, France, Tunisia, etc. Analysis from buyers' buying lists, it is known that the most interested Chinese foods for them are beans, grains, packaging machineries, meat products, food additives, fruits, dehydrated vegetables, etc. We believe that this database is surely valuable for companies who want to explore North Africa market.

Facing the challenges in global trading such as orders reducing and trade barriers growing, the medium and small enterprises must find out suitable ways of "Going Global" by making fully use of their advantages such as flexible and innovative, and now is just the best opportunity.