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Tips for attending your first international trade fair as an African exporter

I'll be attending **Gulfood Dubai 2026** next month — my first major international trade fair! I'm exhibiting Ghanaian processed foods (dried pineapple, coconut oil, and spice blends). I'm a bit nervous and want to make the most of this opportunity. For those who've attended trade fairs before, I have some questions: **Before the fair:** - How many **product samples** should I bring? I'm thinking 200-300 sachets of each product — is that enough? - What **marketing materials** are essential? Business cards, brochures, catalogs? - Should I pre-book meetings with potential buyers, or just work the booth? **During the fair:** - How do you **qualify leads** quickly? I don't want to spend 30…