A total of 313 delegates attended the Middle East & Africa Duty Free Association (MEADFA) Conference in Accra, Ghana, which concluded today.

Of that number, 83 were from Africa – a result the regional association has called ‘excellent’.

DF&TR stakeholders, including brands and retailers, descended on the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City Accra on 19-21 November for a menu of concentrated regional insights, discussion and ample networking opportunities.

Click here to read extensive coverage of the MEADFA Conference, managed by TFWA and hosted by Avolta.

Moderated by The Moodie Davitt Report’s Dermot Davitt and TFWA’s Michele Miranda, the special Africa edition of the MEADFA Conference bridged a number of pertinent topics influencing the African aviation and tourism ecosystems.

Various panel sessions drilled down into topics such as the airport retail model, tobacco illicit trade and understanding the post-Covid MEA traveller.

Among the highlights was a morning keynote address from Roberta Annan, Impact investor, Goodwill Ambassador at UNEP, and founder of African Fashion Foundation and Annan Capital Partners, on the potential of the African duty free and travel retail market.

This accompanied discussions on charting the recovery of the regional industry, a view from Dubai, a focus on African shoppers and a progress report on sustainability in the Middle East and Africa.

The Opening Cocktail was hosted at the Adlon Foyer Forecourt and sponsored by Aphrodite Duty Free, while the Gala Dinner was held at the Mövenpick Hotel and sponsored by Avolta.

During the gala evening, the winners of the MEADFA Awards were announced.

Sherif Toulan, President, MEADFA said: “This week’s MEADFA Conference has given us plenty of reason to feel optimistic about the future of duty free and travel retail in the Middle East and Africa.

“As we met for the first time in West Africa, we at MEADFA were very encouraged that so many of our colleagues from the region and beyond were able to join us. It is gratifying to be able to provide the industry with such a strong platform to better understand the African market and the vast opportunities within it.”

READ MORE: Sherif Toulan, President, MEADFA on TRBusiness Ghana Shorts 

READ MORE: MEADFA Conference: 90 Second News Special