What SAIS MatchMarket is
SAIS MatchMarket is a free B2B matchmaking platform run by SAIS Events. It connects buyers, importers, exporters, manufacturers, suppliers and expo organisers from Africa, the Middle East and the rest of the world, so the right companies meet before, during and after international trade fairs.
Every company on MatchMarket is vetted by our team. That means a factory owner in Türkiye, China or Egypt knows the buyer messaging them is a real, active business, and an importer in Kenya or Uganda knows the supplier is serious. It is also the first step for every delegate who travels with SAIS Events: we use your MatchMarket profile to recommend you to expo organisers for hosted buyer programmes.
Who it is for
- Buyers and importers who want to buy direct from manufacturers, compare suppliers and arrive at an expo with meetings already booked.
- Manufacturers, suppliers and exporters who want vetted buyers and distributors in Africa and the Middle East.
- Exhibitors who want to meet buyers before the show opens, so their stand time turns into orders.
- Expo organisers who want qualified hosted buyers from new markets, recruited and vetted for them.
How it works
- Create your company profile. Add what you sell, what you want to buy, your markets, your deal size and the expos you plan to attend. It takes about 3 minutes.
- Get vetted. Our team checks your company and approves your profile, usually within 24 hours.
- Get matched. MatchMarket suggests partners whose products, markets and expo plans fit yours, with a short reason for each match. You can also filter for companies going to the same expo.
- Talk, meet and deal. Message matches directly, book meetings online or at the expo, and open a private deal room to agree items, quantities and prices.
What members get
- Free membership. Creating a profile and getting matched costs nothing.
- Private conversations. Messages and deal rooms are visible only to the two companies involved and the SAIS team.
- Expo matching. See who else is going to the same trade fair and book meetings before you travel.
- Hosted buyer applications. Vetted profiles are put forward for hosted buyer programmes at our partner expos, including AGROEXPO 2027 in İzmir, AFROPLAST 2027 in Cairo and ALUMINIUM CHINA 2027 in Shanghai.
- Joint Venture Programme. Companies open to partnerships in distribution, local assembly or investment can tick one box to be matched with the right partners.
Where it fits with SAIS Events
SAIS Events coordinates trade expo delegations from Africa and the Middle East. MatchMarket is how we keep every delegate, exhibitor and organiser connected all year, not just during show week. See our upcoming expos, read our questions and answers, or see an example of how a deal comes together.