An alliance with Italian operators has been forged in the Dominican Republic

"If there is a country that more than any other embodies the philosophy of Macfrut, it is the Dominican Republic. Over the past 10 years, more than 600 Dominican companies have attended the fair whether as exhibitors or visitors, and for many years, the Dominican Republic, has had the highest presence at Macfrut with its delegation."

The meeting in Bani with producers of mangoes, bananas and other tropical fruits (photo by Renzo Piraccini)

This is what Renzo Piraccini, president of Macfrut, said while describing the recent visit to the Central American country.

Among the members of the Macfrut delegation were Rosalba Lanciotti, director of the Department of Food Science and Technology (University of Bologna) and Matteo Vittuari international manager of the University of Bologna

Thirty Dominican companies will attend the upcoming Macfrut. In the winter period, Macfrut will organize a technical-scientific event in the Dominican Republic, involving scholars, operators and researchers. For this reason, Rosalba Lanciotti, director of the Department of Food Science and Technology (University of Bologna) and Matteo Vittuari international manager of University of Bologna, were also part of the delegation. In the Dominican Republic, the point of reference is ISA University.

An Italian sorting and packaging line purchased during a Macfrut fair

"The core of our strategy is to combine business with know-how and networking, which is what happened with the Dominicans. Many of these companies have established business relationships and are exporting to Europe, but they are also purchasers of technology and packaging produced in Italy and have built relationships that have lasted over the years precisely at Macfrut."

More than 100 producers at the presentation of Macfrut in Bani

Piraccini signed an agreement in Santo Domingo with the Dominican Minister of Agriculture, Limber Cruz, that will provide government support for the continued participation of operators from the Central American state at Macfrut over the next three years. The agreement will already be effective starting with the 2023 edition scheduled to take place at the Rimini Expo Center on 3 to 5 May, where the Dominican Republic will double the exhibition space of past years.

Mango cultivation in the Bani area

"I am very proud of this agreement," added Piraccini, president of Macfrut, "which marks a new way of looking at trade fairs, no longer just as a three-day exhibition moment but a year-round hub of networking and know-how that benefits exhibitors. It is an innovative concept that is making its way and giving us great satisfaction."

A picture of the Dajabon professional center on the border with Haiti, built by IILA with the support of the Cermac Consortium and created in the context of Macfrut

The agreement establishes that Macfrut will provide Dominican operators with a series of customized services such as visits to Italian companies, dedicated B2B meetings, and an event in the fall for Italian companies at the Dominican Republic particularly interested in Italian technologies.

More than 200 participants in Santa Cruz de Mao representing the more than 600 operators who have visited Macfrut over the past 10 years

A banana processing plant in the Mao area

The meeting in Santo Domingo was attended not only by Minister Limber Cruz, but also by Tony Raful, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic in Italy, Stefano Queirolo Palmas Italian Ambassador in the Dominican Republic, Rosalba Lanciotti Director of the Department of Food Science and Technology of the University of Bologna, Enrico Turoni president of the Cermac Consortium and Mauro Camicia of Iila.

During the visit in Santo Domingo, three stops took place: Bani, an important area for pineapple, pithaya, mango and avocado production; Dajabon, on the border with Haiti, which hosted an open day dedicated to Italian technologies; and Mao, at the center of the banana production area.